Pat Tillman-R.I.P.

Total accidental drive-by ZED?

“The troublemaker wants to talk to Chomsky. I feel like killing somebody today.” Too big a stretch? I have read the second sentence as a quote attributed to a private contractor in Baghdad as he headed out to drive around the city — and he was then reported to have done just that. Wish I had the link.

Wax is wrapping up now. He says all top brass knew prior to memorial but all saying not my fault. That’s it. Still looking for who is responsible. Ajourned

behindthefall @ 3

“The troublemaker wants to talk to Chomsky. I feel like killing somebody today.” Too big a stretch? I have read the second sentence as a quote attributed to a private contractor in Baghdad as he headed out to drive around the city — and he was then reported to have done just that. Wish I had the link.

Since Pat was not in Iraq it probably is.

*ilbo @ 1

Pat Tillman-R.I.P.

U.S. House hearing – RIP!

*ilbo @ 1

Pat Tillman-R.I.P.

Hear hear…Rest in Peace. You were a great example that worn-on-the-shoulder religion doesn’t make one a better person. Sorry you weren’t here longer.

its over !

Helen,
I was trying to help earlier, but, then my temp agency called.
I can lurk and comment, but that’s all.
I say Mitch helping at the end downstairs. Go Mitch!
And thanks for your brain/finger excellence, Helen!

Were the three bullet holes in his forehead EVER mentioned?

who knew & when didn’t they know it?

Open Shout out, to all thinking about going into the military !
Take the football money …. NOT the sign up bonus

behindthefall @ 3

“The troublemaker wants to talk to Chomsky. I feel like killing somebody today.” Too big a stretch? I have read the second sentence as a quote attributed to a private contractor in Baghdad as he headed out to drive around the city — and he was then reported to have done just that. Wish I had the link.

The expression, “too big a stretch” has no application anymore when it comes to talking about the Bush administration and its minions in terms of mendacity. If the sentence doesn’t involve an Elvis sighting or an alien love child, it is not too bid a stretch.

CSPAN-3 All those tabled before the committee-’Shot Group’.

raven @ 5

behindthefall @ 3

“The troublemaker wants to talk to Chomsky. I feel like killing somebody today.” Too big a stretch? I have read the second sentence as a quote attributed to a private contractor in Baghdad as he headed out to drive around the city — and he was then reported to have done just that. Wish I had the link.

Since Pat was not in Iraq it probably is.

Thanks for the reality check — I keep forgetting that there’s more than one theater in this horror show.

War Criminals!

And thank you Helen for fabulous finger work.

Hello all, On Aide’s advice I just got me a cuppa and boy do I feel better. And what do I come back to see? Tomy Snowjob’s face and he’s prolly lying to mre. I say prolly cuz I’ve muted the sound. Because believe it or not I am at work. Yeah – I just live-blogged for four hours from work. Who here thinks my boss is on vacation?

Helen, if you’re still here, thanks for the great job liveblogging!

many thanks to the livebloggers.

no thanks to the oversight committee (with few exceptions – kucinich, hodes,…). that was an extremely lame excuse for oversight.

Rumsfeld Abazaid Myers
all revealed to be the gutless cowards they are.
an absolutely pathetic performance.

Did Code Pink show up at the hearing?

*ilbo @ 14

CSPAN-3 All those tabled before the committee-’Shot Group’.

Is this in answer to the 3-shot question? If not, what of the 3-shot group?

Cheney on Larry King:

“Brent doesn’t walk in my shoes these days. He’s not in the job I’m in,” Cheney said, deflecting a criticism by Brent Scowcroft, a George H.W. Bush administration official who is a long time friend of the Vice President. “He’s not responsible for making the decisions the President has had to make and those of us who support him and advise him.”

Mabel’s Wig Shack @ 21

Did Code Pink show up at the hearing?

I saw them at the end

Airport ot Nowhere

Sen. Ted Stevens, who as a top appropriator has mastered the art of the congressional earmark, tucked $3.5 million into a Senate spending bill this year to help finance an airport to serve a remote Alaskan island.

The airstrip would connect the roughly 100 permanent residents of Akutan to the outside world. The biggest beneficiary, though, would be Seattle-based Trident Seafoods Corp., which operates one of the world’s largest seafood processing plants on the volcanic island in the Aleutians.

Trident and Stevens are no strangers. For years, company founder and Chief Executive Charles Bundrant has been a generous contributor to the Alaska Republican’s campaigns. And in December, according to the Seattle Times, a federal grand jury investigating political corruption in Alaska ordered Trident and other seafood companies to produce documents detailing financial ties to the senator’s son, former Alaska Fisheries Marketing Board Chairman Ben Stevens.

I’ve been to Akutan. A friend was City Manager there. They needed some sort of better airport. But what’s going to probably come out is that a percentage of this earmark found its way back into son Ben’s pocket.

behindthefall @ 15

raven @ 5

Since Pat was not in Iraq it probably is.

Thanks for the reality check — I keep forgetting that there’s more than one theater in this horror show.

Well, with these spooks it’s not all that far from one to the other. Maybe if they said “this weekend”?

Mabel’s Wig Shack @ 21

Did Code Pink show up at the hearing?

yes.

they and kucinich were just about the only postive highlights.

how is it that the anti-war folks are labeled as “not strong’… when they are the only people in the room who show any courage?

all praise be to Helen
AND
the invisible hand of the
WONDERFUL
FDL moderators.

(TMI disclosure: i am facebook friends with the FDL Mods.)

Did anyone find the end of the hearing as hilarious as I did? The dates were laid out when they knew about that Tillman had died due to friendly fire and then one after another they all bail on the dates (which I assume they themselves supplied). All this even though they all knew about it before the story came to public attention.

They don’t know, don’t recall, and don’t take responsibility. And these are supposed to be the serious grownups. Sheesh!

Elliott @ 20

Rumsfeld Abazaid Myers
all revealed to be the gutless cowards they are.
an absolutely pathetic performance.

If my office nannyware didn’t block YouTube, I was going to hunt up a video of Peter Gabriel’s “I Don’t Remember” for this thread. ;-)

Speaking of threads, feel free to hang out and talk amongst yourself for a bit — a fresh non-hearing-related thread will be up at 2pm ET/11am PT.

Thanks to Helen for liveblogging & RonD for picking up @ the last bit there. Continual stonewalling from all witnesses & a general lack of probing ?s from the Dems could not have made the Tillmans happy.

Got to drive in to work finally.
Read you all later.

Kuchinich and Code Pink and Cindy Sheehan are terrible terrible terrible embarassments. We must dress nicely and walk softly with a big stick of limp cheese.

Hugh @ 29

Did anyone find the end of the hearing as hilarious as I did? The dates were laid out when they knew about that Tillman had died due to friendly fire and then one after another they all bail on the dates (which I assume they themselves supplied). All this even though they all knew about it before the story came to public attention.

They don’t know, don’t recall, and don’t take responsibility. And these are supposed to be the serious grownups. Sheesh!

if hilarious = depressing, frustrating and infuriating in your dictionary, then yes.

Hugh @ 29

Did anyone find the end of the hearing as hilarious as I did? The dates were laid out when they knew about that Tillman had died due to friendly fire and then one after another they all bail on the dates (which I assume they themselves supplied). All this even though they all knew about it before the story came to public attention.

They don’t know, don’t recall, and don’t take responsibility. And these are supposed to be the serious grownups. Sheesh!

“I don’t remember, I don’t recall/I got no mem’ry of anything at all…”

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/….._0801.html

Pelosi is going to suck up to Bush again. With out any complaint.

LS @ 23

Cheney on Larry King:

“He’s not responsible for making the decisions the President has had to make…”

And by the way, I’m not naked am I? I am dressed in fine ermine, aren’t I? Oh, thank you Larry. And those are lovely suspenders you have on there.

Give a big shout-out to Helen! She is the shiznit!

Helen @ 17 – thanks for all the liveblogging. Thankfully the doc I work for is on vacation so I was able to keep upswith your posts. Unfortunately, no speakers hooked to my office computer so was only able to watch & read.

Live-bloggers and commenters (and of course ‘THE MODS’) Thank-you so very, very much.
No CSPAN3/no sound on puter. :( so you guys keep me linked and sane ;).

agreed.thank you for this.

Is it possible that Donald Rumsfeld, used the “War on Terror” to enrich himself, with a worthless drug?
======================
If you read the link below from Gilead, you’ll discover Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was made the chairman of Gilead in 1997.

Since Rumsfeld holds major portions of stock in Gilead, he will handsomely profit from the scare tactics of the government that is being used to justify the purchase of $2 billion of Tamiflu.

Thanks Helen

Mabel’s Wig Shack @ 32

Kuchinich and Code Pink and Cindy Sheehan are terrible terrible terrible embarassments. We must dress nicely and walk softly with a big stick of limp cheese.

and never, never ever wear pink.

don’t they know what’s important these days?

Phoenix Woman @ 30

Elliott @ 20

Rumsfeld Abazaid Myers
all revealed to be the gutless cowards they are.
an absolutely pathetic performance.

If my office nannyware didn’t block YouTube, I was going to hunt up a video of Peter Gabriel’s “I Don’t Remember” for this thread. ;-)

Speaking of threads, feel free to hang out and talk amongst yourself for a bit — a fresh non-hearing-related thread will be up at 2pm ET/11am PT.

your wish is my command

I Don’t Remember

Phoenix Woman @ 33

Hugh @ 29

Did anyone find the end of the hearing as hilarious as I did? The dates were laid out when they knew about that Tillman had died due to friendly fire and then one after another they all bail on the dates (which I assume they themselves supplied). All this even though they all knew about it before the story came to public attention.

They don’t know, don’t recall, and don’t take responsibility. And these are supposed to be the serious grownups. Sheesh!

“I don’t remember, I don’t recall/I got no mem’ry of anything at all…”

Here is Peter Gabriel,
I Don’t Remember

Phoenix Woman @ 30

a fresh non-hearing-related thread will be up at 2pm ET/11am PT.

Then I’ll be sure and ready to prawl for a zed! I got two of ‘em yesterday…*g*

I don’t remember why I’m here

My impression of Myers was, sadly, set in stone on 9/11-No Air Force response of any kind, although SOP in event of a highjacking is to launch fighters. “Somebody put a cell phone in my hand, and the decision was made at that point to start launching aircraft”, he said. After the fact-
He should have been court-martialed. Immediately.

Tillman Hearing CliffNotes, made by the 3 Generals at closing:

General 1: “I just want to say…I know nothing”
General 2: “Yeah, me too.”
General 3: “Yeah, me three.”

priceless, pitiful.

The other day somebody here made the observation that there was no enemy activity in the area. I explained that since the incident was a case of two American units engaging, that was not so surprising. Now, I regret saying that. Here’s why: Two american units engaging is one way that a friendly fire incident can occur. Another way is when there is a general firefight — Americans vs. Bad Guys, and an American shoots at a wrong target.

In the later case, an exhaustive investigation is necessary to determine what the heck happened. And my hunch is that the answer is never completely satisfactory. Such is the fog of war.

But in the former case, where it is just a wrongful engagement of American on American, there might be a big investigation about how that occurred, but the conclusion that it was friendly fire is immediate.

How long can we expect them to figure out that it was Americans shooting at Americans in the absense of enemies? Well, figure it this way: if enemy fire was suspected, someone would be charged with finding out where the enemy fled to, for follow-on purposes. That would have to be done lickety split.

There may have been questions about how it occurred, but they knew it was friendly fire before sun-up. They knew that the company had been split up — contrary to S.O.P. Someone may have been trying to cover that up, though it would have required a lot of cooperation from a lot of people.

Bottom line: after what I heard of the hearing — the last one hour — more questions are raised, and fewer are answered.

raven @ 26

behindthefall @ 15

Thanks for the reality check — I keep forgetting that there’s more than one theater in this horror show.

Well, with these spooks it’s not all that far from one to the other. Maybe if they said “this weekend”?

Don’t get me going … *sigh*

RonD @ 48

My impression of Myers was, sadly, set in stone on 9/11-No Air Force response of any kind, although SOP in event of a highjacking is to launch fighters. “Somebody put a cell phone in my hand, and the decision was made at that point to start launching aircraft”, he said. After the fact-
He should have been court-martialed. Immediately.

they should all be in Leavenworth

Mabel’s Wig Shack @ 47

I don’t remember why I’m here

It takes a lot to make me laugh, but THAT did it! (’Here’ being ‘where’, eggzakly?)

Diane @ 37

Helen @ 17 – thanks for all the liveblogging. Thankfully the doc I work for is on vacation so I was able to keep upswith your posts. Unfortunately, no speakers hooked to my office computer so was only able to watch & read.

Helen: Thanks again. 4 hours of liveblogging from work! Great job, I say! (But probably not from your boss–if you have one.)

Mabel’s Wig Shack @ 21

Did Code Pink show up at the hearing?

yes

Thanks, Elliott and Yellowdog Jim! I’ve updated the post accordingly.

Big Mitch,

Did you catch Jon Stewart’s take on the FBI/IRS raid on Sen. Stevens’ chalet?

behindthefall @ 53:

heh! :-)

RonD @ 48

‘My impression of Myers was, sadly, set in stone on 9/11-No Air Force response of any kind, although SOP in event of a highjacking is to launch fighters. “Somebody put a cell phone in my hand, and the decision was made at that point to start launching aircraft”, he said. After the fact-
He should have been court-martialed. Immediately.’
Maybe someone should ask him who was on the other end of the phone??

Check it out – the “Deepthroat” Muckraker poster story is at the top of Kos diaries – :

http://dailykos.com/story/2007/8/1/101840/7097

Elliott @ 52

RonD @ 48

My impression of Myers was, sadly, set in stone on 9/11-No Air Force response of any kind, although SOP in event of a highjacking is to launch fighters. “Somebody put a cell phone in my hand, and the decision was made at that point to start launching aircraft”, he said. After the fact-
He should have been court-martialed. Immediately.

they should all be in Leavenworth

Give em 5 and 10 in Woolworth.

G

RonD @ 48

My impression of Myers was, sadly, set in stone on 9/11-No Air Force response of any kind, although SOP in event of a highjacking is to launch fighters. “Somebody put a cell phone in my hand, and the decision was made at that point to start launching aircraft”, he said. After the fact-
He should have been court-martialed. Immediately.

As of today, not one member of the Miltary, civilian or political administration on September 11, 2001 has been demoted, fired or held to account for the events of that sad day. What we saw this morning was sad, very sad, on all levels. I hope the Tillman family has a post-hearing statement today.

snowbird42 @ 35

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/….._0801.html

Pelosi is going to suck up to Bush again. With out any complaint.

Bushco needs to make legal what was once illegal and Nancy and Harry are going to help him do it. Concurrently, Bushco tells aids not to testify.

Makes perfect sense.

Ed*ard Teller @ 25

Airport ot Nowhere

Sen. Ted Stevens, who as a top appropriator has mastered the art of the congressional earmark, tucked $3.5 million into a Senate spending bill this year to help finance an airport to serve a remote Alaskan island.

The airstrip would connect the roughly 100 permanent residents of Akutan to the outside world. The biggest beneficiary, though, would be Seattle-based Trident Seafoods Corp., which operates one of the world’s largest seafood processing plants on the volcanic island in the Aleutians.

Trident and Stevens are no strangers. For years, company founder and Chief Executive Charles Bundrant has been a generous contributor to the Alaska Republican’s campaigns. And in December, according to the Seattle Times, a federal grand jury investigating political corruption in Alaska ordered Trident and other seafood companies to produce documents detailing financial ties to the senator’s son, former Alaska Fisheries Marketing Board Chairman Ben Stevens.

I’ve been to Akutan. A friend was City Manager there. They needed some sort of better airport. But what’s going to probably come out is that a percentage of this earmark found its way back into son Ben’s pocket.

I agree with my friend, Ed. Among the beneficiaries will be people who eat fish in the United States. Getting it out of Akutan by truck — not such a good idea. A LOTof fish will be flown out by Trident.

Hey, where’s Alfred K???? I haven’t seen postings here lately. The detail and the style in the Muckraker almost sounds like his take on things. Just wondering.

Alfred?? Are you out there???

raven @ 61

Elliott @ 52

they should all be in Leavenworth

Give em 5 and 10 in Woolworth.

G

Is the “G” attribution to Groucho?

EdTellar, IMHO, if Short and Kimmel deserved to be busted for allowing Pearl Harbor, Myers should have been imprisoned, and given a chance to reflect on the probable fate of those Soviet Air Force officers who didn’t stop a civilian plane from landing in Moscow in, ‘85 or ‘86, IIRC.

Ed*ard Teller @ 57

Big Mitch,

Did you catch Jon Stewart’s take on the FBI/IRS raid on Sen. Stevens’ chalet?

Classic.

BigMitch @ 66

raven @ 61

Give em 5 and 10 in Woolworth.

G

Is the “G” attribution to Groucho?

It was a cosmic typo! I just got the DVD set of “You Bet Your Life”. I bet the Firepups can’t wait for more silly one liners!

Biodun@54 See me at 17 – My boss is on vacation!!!

You’re welcome as is everyone here. Thak you all for the Thank yous. It was actually a blast!!

Too bad Turdblossom isn’t gonna show tomorrow. Then we coulda really had some fun!!

dez?

ET, If you are still around.. Did Big Mitch agree to handle your request or? (I did get the info via fb)

The sad truth that is becoming more and more obvious is that this country, for all practical purposes, has been under corporate military rule since 9/11/2001 and perhaps even since 11/22/1963. LBJ got paid big time from Halliburtin. There is nothing new under the sun. The congress isn’t doing its job, there has to be a reason for that and I don’t like the most obvious answer.

raven @ 69

BigMitch @ 66

Is the “G” attribution to Groucho?

It was a cosmic typo! I just got the DVD set of “You Bet Your Life”. I bet the Firepups can’t wait for more silly one liners!

That’s the most rediculous thing I ever hoid.

Eureka Springs @ 72

ET, If you are still around.. Did Big Mitch agree to handle your request or? (I did get the info via fb)

huh?

PatVa @ 10

Were the three bullet holes in his forehead EVER mentioned?

Again, for someone who didn’t follow all threads or the live hearing, wha’ haaappened?

and meanwhile the bloody madness continues

Sunni bloc quits as bombs kill over 70

By Mariam Karouny and Peter Graff 1 hour, 23 minutes ago

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The main Sunni Arab political bloc quit the Iraqi cabinet on Wednesday, plunging the government into crisis on a day when suicide bombers killed more than 70 people with massive strikes in the capital.

The Sunni Accordance Front said its five cabinet members and deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zobaie would resign from Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s government…

The next theatre of conflict. http://www.globalresearch.ca/i…..p;aid=6407 .

Phoenix Woman @ 55

Thanks, Elliott and Yellowdog Jim! I’ve updated the post accordingly.

FDL Facebook aims to serve and serves to please.
(we could run parallel threads there for any (every?) discussion here.)

any facebooker could do what i did: it’s easy.

And you, Phoenix Woman, are most welcome.

BigMitch @ 74

raven @ 69

It was a cosmic typo! I just got the DVD set of “You Bet Your Life”. I bet the Firepups can’t wait for more silly one liners!

That’s the most rediculous thing I ever hoid.

Talk talk talk
sometimes I think I must go mad
why don’t you go home to your wife”
outside of the improvement she’ll never know the difference

raven @ 69

BigMitch @ 66

Is the “G” attribution to Groucho?

It was a cosmic typo! I just got the DVD set of “You Bet Your Life”. I bet the Firepups can’t wait for more silly one liners!

what’s the secret word?

jc in OR @ 76

PatVa @ 10

Were the three bullet holes in his forehead EVER mentioned?

Again, for someone who didn’t follow all threads or the live hearing, wha’ haaappened?

They did not talk about what happened AT ALL. The entire hearing was about what happened after the fact. Who knew what when and how and when was the family notified that it was fratricide. We are no closer to knowing how or why Tillman died.

selise @ 34

Hugh @ 29

Did anyone find the end of the hearing as hilarious as I did? The dates were laid out when they knew about that Tillman had died due to friendly fire and then one after another they all bail on the dates (which I assume they themselves supplied). All this even though they all knew about it before the story came to public attention.

They don’t know, don’t recall, and don’t take responsibility. And these are supposed to be the serious grownups. Sheesh!

if hilarious = depressing, frustrating and infuriating in your dictionary, then yes.

Well, probably plus I would add surreal. But I have to say that so much of this was a joke. The Pentagon has been notorious for being an enormous bureaucracy, a bureaucracy to end all bureaucracies. Yet these *sshats can’t remember when they were informed about anything. It’s like they would have us believe that they had a small office somewhere with no telephone and no staff. In fact, they had big offices, big staffs, and lots of people taking notes and writing memos, logs, and agendas. Doesn’t pass the smell test.

JC,
The witnesses displayed advanced cases of amnesia. Much pontificating, a dearth of questions of substance and woeful to non-existent follow-ups. Helen on fire, live-blogging from work.

the secret word is: Warcriminal.

LBJ and Halliburtin. Re-run city.
http://www.npr.org/templates/s…..Id=1569483

The secret word is New thread

BigMitch @ 87

The secret word is New thread

I’m afraid that link was too secret

Eureka Springs @ 72

ET, If you are still around.. Did Big Mitch agree to handle your request or? (I did get the info via fb)

I dunno. Uh, Mitch please read comments #s 59, 161, 183, 184 and 186 here. There seemed to be a consensus among Eureka Springs, Teddy SanFran, Suzanne and me that you need to help clarify Diane Benson’s stance on her loyalty to the Democratic Party, subsequent to your comment earlier yesterday at #86 here.

I called Ric Goodfellow at KUDO this morning at 0530 Anchorage time to complain about Ms. Moore’s statement.

BigMitch @ 87

The secret word is New thread

Swordfish

Today’s Froomkin on Cheney:

Cheney’s Unmistakable Admission

By Dan Froomkin
Special to washingtonpost.com
Wednesday, August 1, 2007; 1:50 PM

He as good as admitted it.

In an interview yesterday, CNN’s Larry King asked Vice President Cheney if he dispatched Alberto Gonzales and Andy Card to a Washington hospital room to pressure a sedated John Ashcroft, then attorney general, to approve surveillance techniques that Ashcroft’s subordinates had concluded were illegal.

…

LINK

Elliott @ 81

raven @ 69

It was a cosmic typo! I just got the DVD set of “You Bet Your Life”. I bet the Firepups can’t wait for more silly one liners!

what’s the secret word?

Sturgeon

Naah, that’s a doc that cuts people open

Swordfish

jc in OR @ 76

PatVa @ 10

Were the three bullet holes in his forehead EVER mentioned?

Again, for someone who didn’t follow all threads or the live hearing, wha’ haaappened?

Rummy took full responsibilty, shaved his head and joined the Gampo Abbey to be Pema Chodron’s disciple.

RonD @ 84

JC,
The witnesses displayed advanced cases of amnesia. Much pontificating, a dearth of questions of substance and woeful to non-existent follow-ups. Helen on fire, live-blogging from work.

tnx

jc in OR @ 76

PatVa @ 10

Were the three bullet holes in his forehead EVER mentioned?

Again, for someone who didn’t follow all threads or the live hearing, wha’ haaappened?

On the three bullets in Tillman’s forehead – never mentioned. The
event was a mockery of justice. If you’ve seen a three stooges episode or Keystone cops – it was like that, only dull and not funny. Obfuscation, blaming “the army”, but no one in particular, no actual witnesses were present -only the mil. brass – all of whom knew nothing.

Questions from congress members were mostly irrelevant and allowed for long-winded non answers about policy. Nothing of importance to the Tillman fragging incident was given.

Hugh @ 83

Well, probably plus I would add surreal. But I have to say that so much of this was a joke. The Pentagon has been notorious for being an enormous bureaucracy, a bureaucracy to end all bureaucracies. Yet these *sshats can’t remember when they were informed about anything. It’s like they would have us believe that they had a small office somewhere with no telephone and no staff. In fact, they had big offices, big staffs, and lots of people taking notes and writing memos, logs, and agendas. Doesn’t pass the smell test.

yes. surreal too.

and the frustrating part, for me, is why were most of the committee acting like the pentagon’s shit don’t stink?

they (dems on the committee) seem to do ok with a friendly witness – but completely fall apart with hostile witnesses (with a few exceptions).

about 3-shots

They did not talk about what happened AT ALL.

& tnx x 2

I continue to question those who put the members of our military on a pedastal. What has our military done to deserve to be held in such high esteem? Should we feel the same way about the IRS, the FDA, the FBI, the Department of Education or any other large government agency for that matter.

Myers is still agreeing with everything Rumsfeld says. What mice these men are!

If only the Tillmans could have asked the guestions we might have gotten somewhere. I don’t know if even these bona fide know-nothing generals could have lied to them.

Rumsfeld writes to White (?) that he wants White to keep an eye on celebrity Pat (can’t remember the exact words) but no one follows up on that? Give me a break. Rumsfeld did recite the written document almost verbatim but deftly omits the part about keeping an eye on Pat. Damn.

One thing we have learned at hearing after hearing is that the Republics can’t see that any crimes were committed anywhere by anyone and that’s why there was no oversight while they were in charge. But just wait until they have the power to investigate Democrats again. Who votes for these weasels?

i have watched many hearings both senate and house and have noticed the in washington there is a memory problem. i do not know if it the swamp gas there or not. do you think that ginkgo biloba should be on table along with the water bottles?

Okay,now this hearing was about the cover-up. Now do we get to have ahearing on the actual events with every officer and front line grunt who was there at the time of the incident or will we be denied this by the Administration and or the Pentagon. Come on now! This poor guy was shot three times in a close pattern in the forehead. These soldiers have to testify to get anywhere in this case.

Hayduke @ 73

The sad truth that is becoming more and more obvious is that this country, for all practical purposes, has been under corporate military rule since 9/11/2001 and perhaps even since 11/22/1963. LBJ got paid big time from Halliburtin. There is nothing new under the sun. The congress isn’t doing its job, there has to be a reason for that and I don’t like the most obvious answer.

If you want to really get down to it, Dresser Industries, the first company George H W Bush “worked” for before forming Zapata Oil in 1953 with the help of the CIA, was bought by Brown and Root before it ws merged with Kellogg to become KBR. So Poppy’s ties to all the war profiteers in this and previous wars is pretty much clear-cut.

Which has always led me to believe that GHWB was very, very involved in the events of Dallas 1963. Cui bono, one of the questions good investigator asks when investigating a serious crime. The main beneficiaries of the JFK assassination from day one, have been the Bush family. Even the petty hatred that Bush Jr displayed toward the Special Olympics because the Kennedy family sponsors it, is very telling.

Bushes hate the Kennedys because the Kennedys, even though old Joe made a good portion of his fortune through Prohibition, have always had the idea that people are what count in this country, not money or corporate interests, people. Of course, Sargent Shriver must be turning over in his grave thinking of Maria married to the Nazi, but for the most part Kennedys know the meaning of noblesse oblige.

Were the weapons at the scene ever tested for a forensics match to the bullets?

If not, why not? Don’t they watch “Forensic Files”?

It was nice to see Rumsfeld so cheerful after killing and maiming many thousands of people.

Hugh @ 29

Did anyone find the end of the hearing as hilarious as I did? The dates were laid out when they knew about that Tillman had died due to friendly fire and then one after another they all bail on the dates (which I assume they themselves supplied). All this even though they all knew about it before the story came to public attention.

They don’t know, don’t recall, and don’t take responsibility. And these are supposed to be the serious grownups. Sheesh!

If ANYBODY EVER says Dems are weaker on Defense than Republicans…

RonD @ 48

My impression of Myers was, sadly, set in stone on 9/11-No Air Force response of any kind, although SOP in event of a highjacking is to launch fighters. “Somebody put a cell phone in my hand, and the decision was made at that point to start launching aircraft”, he said. After the fact-
He should have been court-martialed. Immediately.

Before 9/11 the law was changed (by whom, I’d like to know) so that the NoRAD head would no longer be the person who decides when to intercept civilian airliners. That responsibility became the Sec. of Defense’s — Rumsfeld on 9/11.

Who changed the law?
Why?
Why did Rumsfeld not get it done on 9/11?

In short, who knew it was coming and why did they order the ’stand down’?

RonD @ 67

… the probable fate of those Soviet Air Force officers who didn’t stop a civilian plane from landing in Moscow in, ‘85 or ‘86, IIRC.

That incident is one which made me think the West was testing Soviet defense responses and it might’ve been related to 9/11 in that there is a lingering bit of logic that we didn’t respond ‘in full’ on 9/11 to avoid showing our REAL full response to a nation-threatening attack.

Obviously the Soviets might’ve not seen the German aircraft (being small and flying low and not being loaded with bombs). But, can we use the same logic here, to say we knew the airplanes weren’t a threat? Can we say we simply won’t ever hit a civilian commercial airplane?

There are a lot of layers and b.s. surrounding 9/11. And, that, if nothing else, is what makes me think we were completely aware of the coming attack and allowed it to happen.

OTOH, that doesn’t mean that every unit of our response people (INS, CIA, FBI, FAA, NoRAD, etc.) were aware of all the aspects and logical explanations for the WHOLE event. I mean, nobody could’ve expected the WTC towers to collapse from a couple of airplane hits and kill around 3000 people. Nobody would’ve predicted that.

But…somebody probably planned it.

Of course, the government people and many outside it will keep their secret(s) to death. They have faith. Others will be scared to tell. And, some will be paid off or killed.

What I would like to know is if it’s possible for anyone to REALIZE they are keeping a secret about how our government runs things away from the People, who are supposed to be in charge. Where is their fealty to the People? Why does nobody trust the People with this?

I think it’s a semper fi attitude which keeps the conspiracy together and it’s the political leaders who know/knew who are the ones to talk — and Bush ain’t talkin’.

So, if the public want a full accounting they have to ‘hire’ new ‘management’ and dig into the story. If it’s as well hidden as the Tillman thing, then it’ll unravel in a jif.

Choose carefully!