Six years to the day after we were attacked by crazed religious zealots and murderers, I would have thought that remembrances of those events would be the major news topic. But they weren’t. Instead we witnessed yet another blatant propaganda effort, followed by a fraudulent bait and switch about phony troop reductions, pulled off by an Administration whose defining characteristic has been in perpetrating fraud and deception on the American public.
The progressive blogosphere has rightly focused on what might charitably be called the selective rosiness of the reports provided by General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker. But though correcting the record is essential, the focus on these two men is not.
The General’s ribbons and the Ambassador’s diplomatic phrasing were just the lastest bright shiny objects, manipulated by an Administration that excels in distractions and propaganda. They were sent to divert our attention from those who created this unending foreign policy disaster.
George Bush and Dick Cheney, the authors of that catastrophe, unapologetic perpetrators of six years of fraudulent bait and switch, remained hidden in the White House, hoping to take credit for whatever propaganda gain his general and ambassador might provide them, while avoiding any blame or loss of credibility. They, along with the neocon warmongers who still surround and cheer on the foolhardy misdirection into Iraq, will, if left unchecked [h/t selise], lead us into another catastrophe in Iran (h/t C&L; and see this). But these reckless and cowardly men did not appear before Congress yesterday, and we’re still waiting to see if Congress can muster the institutional self respect to demand that they answer to them and the American people.
Yesterday should have been devoted to remembering September 11, 2001 and how we responded. But instead, Congressional hearings on Iraq dominated the media and demanded our attention. The witnesses were a general and a diplomat, but it was just another bait and switch from George Bush and Dick Cheney.
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Caw-Caw!
Absolutely right Scarecrow!
Scarecrow! Doing a great job, ate fresh corn last night!
Betrayus and Crocker just repeated the same few points over and over with frequent sprinklings of “alqaeda”
9-11 forgotten
bait & switches within bait & switches:
that’s what we were promised. what we got was two lying hacks.
but calling them lying hacks doesn’t take away from the fact that they are just pawns in this administration’s latest bait & switch.
AZ Matt @ 3
Uh, actually, we get fired for doing that.
Excellent post. By the way the NYT has a ludicrous piece inside the paper on how a majority of Iraqis (with whom they spoke principally, it seems, employees) are in favor of us staying. (Ya right). Nothing like good (and honest) reporting to start the day with.
It’s not the Surge.
It’s the Sleight.
Bush and Cheney are cowards in every sense of the word. Their physical cowardice is almost understandable as there were many of us who did what we could to avoid being sent to Vietnam.
But their moral and intellectual cowardice in pushing this ill-conceived, ill-managed, and unconscionable invasion and occupation through their surrogates is what will resonate through our remaining history as a shining example of everything that is bad and evil in our nature as a nation.
UK troops head for the Iranian border.
Link.
-GSD
inside job.
OT (but it is all connected). Have we heard any condemnation by the US Gov about the unprovoked bombing attacks by Isr*el (whom we fund to the hilt in military and other ways) by Syria? Such acts could (are intended to?) destroy any chance of peace in the M.E. And, if we haven’t heard any official condemation, why not? How about the Dems. Congress gives a huge amount each year of our tax dollars to buttress he same Is*ael military which is undertaking these attacks.
Richmond @ 7
Yes, I thought that was a curious article, seeming to contradict the polling just done of Iraqi views. And the reporter a couple days back co-authored another article that systematically debunked many of the WH/Petraeus/Crocker claims. Damien Cave was co-author on that one.
From this morning’s live presser on CSPAN3:
Petraeus still trying for a do over on his “I don’t know” answer to Warner’s question about the Iraq war making America safer. Nice try (again), General.
Hard to unsay (& unhear) that answer from yesterday, though, isn’t it…
GSD @ 10
excuse me while I go screaming from the room
‘Morning, Scarecrow, FirePups.
Of course the day could’t be dedicated to remembering 9/11’s victims.
Because after 6 years, we’d immediately begin to ask why the hell the biggest military in the world and half a trillion dollars hasn’t caught the mofo who claimed to have perpetrated 9/11.
Of course there would be lots of smoke and mirrors, useful tools doing song-and-dance routines.
Disgusted that the only place they seemed to remember the day was in my kid’s school — and without giving me advance warning. Grrr…distract the adults, brainwash the kids, what completely corruption.
Morning, everyone. Catching up on all the posts since last night. Am stunned that those soldiers were casualties. Can’t believe that’s coincidence.
Good morning;
Excxellent posts, Scarecrow, as always. BTW, thanks for link to soldier’s NYT piece.
Have time only for quick dip in lake.
Question: At this time, how many democrats stand with us in NOT wanting to bomb Iran?
Correspondance from HoJoe. I think this in response to my “Why don’t you give the troops a break, Sir” letter:
peanutbutter @ 16
I agree. Like (intentionally?) breaking the Reverend’s leg by the Capital Police, this is about intimidating those in the opposition who speak out publicly and seek to “embarrass” the administration. Tillman 2 and 3? I hope their parents have the strength of Tillman’s to pursue the cause of their deaths.
A couple of on topic cartoons, from the KC Star’s Lee Judge . . .
The Axis of Evil
Petraeus and Bush
Stay the Course.
The KC Star regularly publishes Judge’s cartoons (like #1) , but he/they also put up unpublished cartoons on a separate blog (#2 and 3), sometimes with comments from Judge about the ins and outs of good cartooning.
GSD @ 10
Thanks; I’ve added that link to the post.
Amazing NYT op-ed. I can’t believe those guys were killed.
Joe the submarine Ho.
peanutbutter @ 17
TILLMAN!
Caw! Caw! Scarecrow, great post! Two things, or maybe more…I think the committees should take Petraeus and Crocker up on the suggestion to call in Admiral Fallon for a chat, since so much of Feingold’s questions were above their pay grade. By the way, weren’t you very proud of Feingold yesterday. Several Senators asked some very good questions (of course, some of the answers put you to sleep and amounted to filibustering more than anything.)
Second, whenever I looked at Crocker, I couldn’t help but think how much better Joe Wilson would have been in his position. What a loss–or should I say, what a Crock!
rwcole @ 24
He thinks it gets him accolades in CT cause of the groton base. And we will all losely associate advocacy of that base with his sub-mania.
GSD @ 10
Wow 250 troops, that’ll do a lot.
Thanks GSD@10. More scary news.
On Stephanie Miller show, it was just pointed out that just before 9/11 there was a rise in a particular index that bets on a likely event (seems to have been linked to shares in American and United Airlines in part). Now, apparently, this same index is showing an uptick for an event happening here in the U.S. sometime before Sept 21.
Tinfoil hat stuff certainly, but it was suggested here that sources point to the #2 at the CIA (Buzz someone) as the person behind the first uptick (profiting from anticipated share declines) based on intel linked to the Saudis.
raven @ 28
Well, it would draw the UK in if their troops are subjected to hostilities.
Human chum.
-GSD
mui at 19: Yep, Lieberman would love to have 65,000 more troops to play with in the ME. That way Bush could extend the surge another 6-12 months, while “supporting the troops.”
It amazes me that most of the leading Dems support having a larger army, as though they think we would use it responsibly to maintain peace and not wage war.
Ann in AZ @ 26
Yes, I thought Feingold was excellent, as were several of our Dems. They did well for the cameras . . .
Please indulge this personal OT, but I was just out front watering and I (accidentally) Watered Down the little American Flag I had put out there for the 4th of July. The grapevine had grown over it.
Does this mean my patriotism has been diluted?
Off to work.
Snark on.
mui @ 23
Ever hear of Bernard Fall?
Hey, all. I’ve heard one or two references to a US general who was killed in Iraq in the last year. I haven’t been able to figure out who this is. Perhaps he simply died the last year (of natural causes) but can anyone give me any leads? I googled it up, but the best I could find was an Iraqi general who was killed last year.
peanutbutter @ 35
No way.Hell if any field grade officer were KIA it’d be all over.
peanutbutter @ 35
I read recently that no officer above a colonel has been killed — can’t remember where i saw that.
Was it Sen. Webb who was able to get Gen. Petraus to admit that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11? I wish the MSM would pick up on this and play it over and over. According to some recent polls, 40% of the knuckledragging repulicans (faux news viewers) believe Iraq was responsible for 9/11.
Richmond @ 29
I’m pretty sure this isn’t true. See Snopes.
Army Relief Act 2005 must’ve tanked
A team of Senate and House Democrats today are planning to introduce legislation today aimed at significantly increasing size of the U.S. Army. Via Hill. HoJoe, Hilary, Tauscher and Salazar were all ready to help ChimpO.
Demi, please turn yourself in to the nearest Halliburton Re-education Center.
-GSD
Scarecrow @ 31
Oh see my 40, Scarecrow. Anyone asked Hillary yet about whether or not we should increase the army in debate?
dakine01 @ 9
I have to disagree. Bush did nothing to avoid serving in Vietnam. As always, he let his dad take care of it. He didn’t bother to complete his duty and got away consequence free. Bush dishonors those who did serve and those who, through their own efforts, did not serve.
raven @ 36
All over the news I mean.
Scarecrow @ 37
That’s pretty much what I found, too. Hmmmm.
raven @ 34
Sad, sad, sad.
Richmond @ 29
Somebody has bet big bucks on the stock market losing 20% of it’s total value between Sept 14 and Sept 21.
Link to Generational Dynamics here. The info’s in John’s “weblog” on the right, as opposed to the indepth articles on the left.
Rank: In both the Army and the Marines, enlisted personnel have 40 percent higher mortality than officers. The excess mortality of enlisted soldiers is diminished by the high mortality of the lowest-ranking officers, lieutenants, who are typically the leaders of combat patrols. Lieutenants have the highest mortality of any rank in the Army, 19 percent higher than all Army troops combined. Marine Corps lieutenants have 11 percent higher mortality than all Marines. But the single highest-mortality group in any service consists of lance corporals in the Marines, whose death risk is 3.3 times that of all troops in Iraq.
Scarecrow, you can be right in attacking Bush and Cheney and wrong in not assaying how those two losers got elected. All we have on the other side are the Clintons and then the pathetic Gore and Kerry. I am just as scared about the options to Bush and Cheney. What is the system we have here, Viacom, Rupert Murdoch, licensed media and Judith Miller and the NYT. Get focused.
mui @ 27
And Electric Boat where they build the subs (or used to)! It was across the river from the old Navy Undersea Research Center in New London, which ended up being a central figure in the Kelo (Eminent Domain) decision.
O/t -
Tracked down the article connected w/selise’s comment downstairs and brought it up for anyone interested in “the $9 billion in Coalition Provisional Authority funds that disappeared, unaccounted for, after being shipped to Iraq in 2003 and 2004″:
http://www.vanityfair.com/poli…..ions200710
Article by Don Barlett and James Steele ref’d by selise @ 39 “on democracy now – analysis on the pentagon’s missing $9 billion. It’s worse than I thought….the CPA, bremer look very, very dirty. wow” [snip]
………see also Q & A with authors linky there.
Hoping this is repeated on Dem. Now today……I can get it on Dish at both 11:00 and 12:00 ET via Free Speech TV and Link TV.
Shadowstalker @ 47
Doesn’t take a genius to see that one coming.
Sorry, I was wrong. . .again:
Scarecrow @ 30
i think it’s time we consider the possibility that peace is not on most of the leading dems agenda.
Badwater @ 43
Badwater,
During the Vietnam era, “service” in the Guard or Reserves was the equivalent of avoiding the war. Unlike this current craziness, very few Guard units were sent into combat in Vietnam which is why the sons of politicians and prominent people used it to nominally fulfill a military obligation without actually having to do anything dangerous. It was a means of manipulating the system for the chickenhawks (not all who served in the guard and reserves in those days WERE chickenhawk however – only those, like today, who were in favor of the war as long as someone else was fighting it).
raven @ 52
Meaning? Those are field grade officers? Still not generals though.
Shadowstalker @ 47
.
Gee, and Greenspan just said this:
my bold
Rayne @ 16: “Because after 6 years, we’d immediately begin to ask why the hell the biggest military in the world and half a trillion dollars hasn’t caught the mofo who claimed to have perpetrated 9/11.”
So. Damn. True.
I’d also ask why the hell the biggest military in the world and all the trillions of dollars spent on it over the years didn’t protect us on that day, but that would be impolite. Yet we put the military on a pedestal and invest such faith and confidence in them when deciding policy.
Wake up Americans! Please!
peanutbutter @ 34
There was someone recently in the news (Newsweek) who committed suicide was so upset about all the corruption.
To leftdcin72:
You are advocating that Scarecrow “get focused”?
This is a joke. Scarecrow is one of the most focused people I have ever met. Peddle this nonsense elsewhere please.
raven @ 27
Well, yeah. But raven, you and others know also the possibilities here as we project forward in time. The article says the Brits man the post; with intention that US forces come in later on. So…….later on:
1. mortar fire: the small US outpost takes mortar fire from across the border. We therefore gotta go bomb those rascals!
2. hot pursuit: the small US base camp comes under attack. The bad guys run back across the border. We therefore gotta go bomb those rascals!
Ghostman
Richmond@58
That was Col. Ted Westhusing.
peanutbutter @ 52
Doesn’t take a genius to see that one coming.
But to pin it down to a six-day period, and bet something like 60 million total on it? That it’s coming is certain, but unless I know something specific, I wouldn’t try to pin it down that way with that kind of money.
OT: According to this earlier thread by Siun:
On the other hand, I just came across this, which is an Edwards campaign site, stating:
And this over at HuffPo:
For whatever it’s worth, Ron Paul has also pledged an immediate and total withdrawal.
So far I’ve not seen any such thing for Hillary.
Elliott @ 56
So it may be linked to the mortgage crisis. My question then is whether there is a way to tell if particular stocks (other than say housing related construction) are falling for reasons that don’t seem to make sense (as the airlines apparently did just before 9/11?)
mui at 19 etc.
I’m surprised your keyboard didn’t melt at having to copy that stuff.
Is Jo-um yours? We’ve got Voila-vitch, & his answers sound as if they had the same tutor. Beyond my spew-control capacity to read the whole thing. Whoosh. Open a window.
leftdcin72 @ 49
You can focus wherever you feel it would be effective. There is a continuum of causation that leads, for some, back to original sin, but I choose to focus on Bush/Cheney. You have to start somewhere and I’m okay if you disagree.
otoh… there is Lynn Woolsey, who is actually interested in peace:
Can someone update me/us on what happened to the Rev last night after he was taken away?
Was a lawyer retained? Was there any presser?
Scarecrow @ 37
Thanks for the post, scarecrow.
If any of those mortars that pepper the green zone daily land on a ranking officer, or high diplomat, then yes, it’s all over.
peanutbutter @ 56
Right, Major and above are field grade, Generals are General and Admirals are Flag officers. And shit rolls down hill.
Waccamaw at 51. Thanks much! ;->
OT? NOT! I’m thinkin’ it’s all of a piece, even tho the level of filthy deeds boggles the mind.
Another rockin’ post, Scarecrow. You hit the nail on the head.
I still am in disbelief that so many elected officials allow them to continue to do so.
Catch up with y’all later.
Richmond@65
As I understand the data, the “bet” is on the market overall, not any particular stocks. It has the marketwatchers most perplexed, as there’s an identical “bet” on every point in the spread at around 20% loss of value for every day in that six-day-period.
Adie @ 66
Lamont is mine. Lieberman is my pretend Senator. Lamont has a new site by the way. It’s how I keep body and soul together on this one.
If any of those mortars that pepper the green zone daily land on a ranking officer, or high diplomat, then yes, it’s all over.
I’m not sure why a senior officer getting killed in a war zone would be more than a one-day story. However, an incident with a Congresscritter out for a stroll in a Baghdad market would be very different — which is why I’m reasonably certain that no Congressperson has ever been allowed to take even a heavily armed stroll in any location where the chances of that happening were higher than trivial.
Scarecrow @ 76
I guees because some of us (wink) have trouble believing that any high ranking officer will be anywhere near the shit. That doesn’t mean an “odd angry shot” couldn’t happen but you know the odds.
Scarecrow @ 66
I’m ok if you disagree too but, respectfully, skip the platitudes. Your “focus” is going to produce the Clintons again and I am not ok with that. What we face is not about original sin but about a system populated with careerists who are dangerous, dangerous.
Shadowstalker @ 73
Thanks so much. What seems strange to me is the specificity of the time period no? Another “black Monday” brought on in part by mortgage, bank, and lending issues could take place at any time. Is there any sense that China might be planning something related to loans at that time? Or, are any key reports that will be lower than widely assumed due out at that time?
Adie @ 72
Neat stuff in the Q&A on how REAL investigative journos work!
Scarecrow @ 76
I agree with your point, I was just thinking more of a “wrong place at the wrong time” scenario.
Editor and Publisher has a short article on the deaths of the two op-ed soldiers.
OT (not really). News in the Boston Globe today that Katie Couric’s Iraq pro-surge reports did not give her even a tiny up-tick. The she-hawk rethug cheerleader is tanking.
I don’t think Katie ever was out of the tank… she has been on a steady trajectory down the ratings rat hole.
You know, if there was no general who died in Iraq, that kinda shoots a large hole in Althespook’s narrative from the other night. Call me skeptical, but I have spent enough time perched on a bar stool swapping war stories not to recognize one when I hear one.
Richmond@78
The only things I know of going on are not really financial in nature…there’s that “stand-down” of the Air Force on the 14th, and a major speech by Chimpy, I think the same day. I don’t know when the Fed next meets, though it’s not far off. The market’s expecting a quarter-point to half-point rate drop, though the more conservative (in the financial sense) types are skeptical. Bernanke’s got inflation on his mind.
What concerns me is comparing that bet to the possibility of going after Iran, plus the lost nukes. I keep checking to see if my tinfoil hat is on.
Scarecrow @ 81
“One of the other five authors of the Times piece, Staff Sergeant Jeremy Murphy, an Army Ranger and reconnaissance team leader, was shot in the head while the article was being written.”
a little more detail on this would have been nice, E&P!
Your “focus” is going to produce the Clintons again . . .
Well, at least we’ll know whom to blame if the country goes down the tubes. But if you insist on characterizing my focus, you might want to read the 130 posts I’ve put up over the last 9 months, including my comments on “the Clintons.” After that, we can argue about how “scattered” I’ve been.
Scarecrow @ 82
It’s freaking unbelievable, the mortality rate of the authors. It seems way too “coincidental.”
dakine01 @ 54
8 Guard units went to Nam, called up after the King assassination. I spent my last 4 months in one, the 107th Signal from Providence, RI.
Shadowstalker @ 84
Yup, my thought too, coupled with Isr*el’s recent “trial” bombing in Syria, and now the move of British troops (however small in number) to the Iran border.
Helpless Dancer @ 84
damn, sorry I missed that one!
mui @ 87
This war has had a out of sight high death rate for journalists and media people too (some of it apparently part of this intentional on the part of our military). Remember the Baghdad hotel incident?
leftdcin72 @ 78
Who the hell else is going to run for president except “careerists” Pat Paulsen?
only slightly OT, given the “Bait and Switch” title:
Listed under “Signatories or contributors to other significant letters or reports” of PNAC is one Michael O’Hanlon. You know, that previously ‘anti-war liberal’ who saw the light recently about Iraq?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P…..h_the_PNAC
See Sec. 4.5 – I was also a bit surprised to see Gary Bauer’s name on there, though I probably shouldn’t have been.
Not only did these fuckers profane the dead, again — they made me forget to call my sainted mother on her birthday.
OT
but ever since I read The Hot Zone…
Congo Ebola outbreak 166 dead
GSD @ 10
350 troops? Maybe they’re the bait.
jayt @ 95
Haim Saban is a big donor(and top Hillary money bag man). Brookings isn’t a liberal outfit at all. They have a number of wingnuts there. Just look at the people they have in their health related areas. McClellan(the HHS one). I could go on but it makes me sick.
brendan @ 96
brendan (not) calling
raven @ 94
A careerist is “a person interested chiefly in achieving his (her) personal ambitions, to the neglect of other things”. Webster’s understands. You do not. The Clintons and Bushes are careerists with no collateral benefit provided (”other things”). We should be finding and having politicians, unlike the Clintons and the Bushes, who can see beyond what they think are first class seats and privileges and are interested in “other things” as well.
Bloomberg is such a person as is Chuck Hagel as were the Roosevelts, both Teddy and Franklin. Eugene McCarthy, perhaps, although I am not sure.
Christy has a new post ready.
Mui@46
About Bernard Fall…
This is the “Street Without Joy” Article from the Friday, Mar. 03, 1967 Issue of Time Magzine.
Scarecrow @ 101
you’re such a kidder
404
Scarecrow @ 102
404 not found…
Biodun @ 105
It may be ready, but it is not not present.
^_^
Elliott @ 97
Heard a report this morning on radio that cholera has broken out in northern Iraq and is spreading rapidly throughout the country. Citing lack of proper water supplies and heat for spreading.
What’s that about progress in the infrastructure, Bushie? Heckuva job.
The new post is up.
nonplussed @ 103
Speaking of Bernard Fall, have you ever read, “Hell in a Small Place”? We need more journalists like Fall(may he Rest in Peace).
Elliott @ 87
I was thinking the same thing. Anyone know how Staff Sergeant Jeremy Murphy is doing?
Sorry, try this link to Christy’s new post.
leftDC:
If you would take the advice Scarecrow so calmly offered above, you would refrain from comments like this:
“Webster’s understands. You do not.”
This was uncalled-for and unnecessary.
Thank you for the posts this morning, Scarecrow caw caw!
Elliott @ 113
And thank you, everyone, for the comments. See you upstairs.
zennurse @ 112
ok I am sorry for offending you. I will leave and never come back.
Frank Probst @ 110
Come on this cannot be a coincidence. they have been “Tillmaned”
As an ex-pat American living in Quebec, it’s very, very hard for me to understand how I can be in a French-speaking community where the fire trucks have decals praising and honouring their fallen brothers and sisters from September 11th, 2001, take a minute of silence and hug each other while I see nothing… not a damn thing but politics-as-usual from my ex-homeland.
Perhaps my “surrender-monkey” compatriots have more honour and integrity than… well, you know.
Disclaimer: My wife is a firefighter in said community and I am the “home support” for her. Makes for interesting “wife’s nights out”.
Richmond @ 93
Yes I saw the documentary on Al-Jazeera. One of the crew was killed, and had a young family of course. I also read some article about Chimpy telling the British he wanted to “get” or bomb Al-Jazeera. If that is true, than he is more directly guilty of murdering a journalist/cameraman, (in addition to the whole despicable cost of the war in terms of human loss.)
jim oconnor @ 58
Look! Over there! Bright Shiny Things!
And while Genrul Betrayus, the ReThugs and the ‘Democrat’ Party play at dogs and ponies the one key question about 9/11 still, still remains unanswered.
raven @ 28
The last time Brits got near Iranians they were captured. What is planned for this bunch?
They’re our friends, so if something bad happens we won’t have a choice, but to go after the bad guys, all the way to Teheran if need be. All nice and neat logic.
masaccio @ 39
Search the Internet for stories about “9/11 short-selling stocks Krongard” (sp). Buzz became a CIA guy after 9/11. Apparently he knew something and parlayed it into a power job where he could get even more valuable intelligence.
Much of the short-selling (bet that those company’s stocks would fall in value within a certain time period) came from America and Germany. Also, most was never cashed in on. Probably some people got a hot tip and played it, but then realized after 9/11 that they couldn’t profit from that.
mui @ 40
This kind of legislation really helps us to know which legislators are Democrats and which are Republicans, whatever labels they wear.
Edwards for President — Leadership America needs!
peanutbutter @ 52
America is well-ARMed, but they might not have problems until October. After all, that’s when the market traditionally tanks.
You mentioned Petraeus’s medals: I thought he looked like a bloody Christmas tree.