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A classic Dr. Evil moment…
Froomkin points to a couple of very useful tidbits on Dick Cheney. The most intriguing is from a column last June:
…The roots of the crisis go back to the blind bargain Washington made after 9/11 with the regime that had heretofore been the Taliban’s main patron: ignoring Musharraf’s despotism in return for his promises to crack down on al-Qaeda and cut the Taliban loose. Today, despite $10 billion in U.S. aid to Pakistan since 2001, that bargain is in tatters; the Taliban is resurgent in Afghanistan, and al-Qaeda’s senior leadership has set up another haven inside Pakistan’s chaotic border regions.
The problem is exacerbated by a dramatic drop-off in U.S. expertise on Pakistan. Retired American officials say that, for the first time in U.S. history, nobody with serious Pakistan experience is working in the South Asia bureau of the State Department, on State’s policy planning staff, on the National Security Council staff or even in Vice President Cheney’s office. Anne W. Patterson, the new U.S. ambassador to Islamabad, is an expert on Latin American “drugs and thugs”; Richard A. Boucher, the assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, is a former department spokesman who served three tours in Hong Kong and China but never was posted in South Asia. “They know nothing of Pakistan,” a former senior U.S. diplomat said.
Current and past U.S. officials tell me that Pakistan policy is essentially being run from Cheney’s office. The vice president, they say, is close to Musharraf and refuses to brook any U.S. criticism of him. This all fits; in recent months, I’m told, Pakistani opposition politicians visiting Washington have been ushered in to meet Cheney’s aides, rather than taken to the State Department.
No one in Foggy Bottom seems willing to question Cheney’s decisions…. (emphasis mine)
Is there any policy issue that Dick Cheney is not running these days? Is the President doing anything other than flouncing about on his bike? And other than bonus shoe purchase travel days, what exactly is Condi Rice accomplishing if she’s too scared of Dick Cheney to call him out for bad policy?
Juan Cole has much, much more. As does Fred Kaplan.
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Christy!
zed.
Christy!
BADA BING! x2
4ish…
drat. I’ll tell’em downstairs.
Trio of Mercy
That is exactly why I think the author of the Emergency Declaration by Musharraf was probably Addington.
tomorrow (from the list):
2 pm – House Foreign Affairs
Oversight Hearing: Democracy, Authoritarianism, and Terrorism in Contemporary Pakistan
Witness: John Negroponte, Deputy Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State
I’m more convinced all the time that the WH, at Cheney’s behest, is involved in slowing down and attenuating the ongoing US DOJ investigations into GOP political corruption here in Alaska. A lot came out in the Vic Kohring trial, further implicating the all-but-hidden hand of Big Oil in this criminal enterprise. Any time the Feds start homing in on big oil and things slow down, the hand of Deadeye is bound to be there…
He goes out and makes incoherent speeches to his
followerssupporters and holds pressworship servicesconferences where he gives incoherent answers to softball questions.LS @ 8
I’ve suspected Cheney’s hand in this also. No evidence. It just seems so cheneyesque.
LS @ 8
Whew, I thought I was the only one wearing a hat today.
Selise, any word on the impeachment bill from Kucinich? At some point, I need to take a shower!
mc @ 13
I’ve got mine on, as well.
Now, this is scary (from the JC link above) and why Cheney’s hand in this is not so farfetched:
“If Bush and Cheney are ever tempted into extreme measures in the United States, Musharraf has provided a template for how it would unfold. Maintain you are moving against terrorists and extremists, but actually move against the rule of law. Rubin has accepted the suggested term of “lawfare” to describe this kind of warfare by executive order.”
mc @ 16
And Bush has said he will govern for the rest of his term by executive or administrative order.
JF @ 15
If this is true, I don’t think he would even bother to tell Rice or Bush. He consults no one, answers to no one.
This time, Cheney might not be able to bail Musharraf out of his current predicament:
mc @ 16
The term “preemptive arrests” (from the same link) is telling.
I had never even thought of this possibility.
Everyone here in the UK is wondering why on Earth did Musharraf do it? Britain is awash with Pakistani experts, most of them born there, and no one seems to be able to work out why he has been so dumb.
But who do we know out in the big wide world who hates being told what to do by lawyers, who ignores the Constitution at will and who goes so far as to think he is head of a fourth branch of Government?
Who might have told his pal Pervez just to go off and arrest all the lawyeres who don’t agree with him?
Who might actually love to do that at home?
Who starts off on absurd courses of action, like invading Iraq for instance, without giving any thought to what happens next?
Oh yes, Dick Cheney. It all makes sense now.
We don’t have anyone with expertise on Pakistan? We’ve been in bed with them for six years! How can we not have someone who knows how to deal with them?
So, could this be a plausible scenario?:
Gates, Rice, and Bush encouraged Bhutto to come back to Pakistan, but Cheenee decided to create the martial law (probably without informing the others..including providing the carefully worded declaration of Emergency, based on terra), in order to facilitate some kind of provocation (as yet unknown) that will involve Iran and justify an attack?
BTW, there was apparently a missile attack in Pakistan just prior to the declaration, but I don’t know what or where the origin was.
Just brainstorming.
I don’t usually comment here and this is not on-topic, but FDL really needs to blog about a breaking story. I figured this was an easier way to get attention than an email into a clogged inbox.
http://www.sadlyno.com/archives/7762.html
An incident of right-wing stalking that makes the Graeme Frost affair look relatively harmless.
What followed was a coordinated effort to block Andy [Stephenson]’s medical care or his benefit from the medical care we could secure for him. In specific, the Bush right had its agents make small donations so they could then call Paypal with allegations of fraud that froze Andy’s account. They also called Paypal, misrepresenting themselves as the hospital to “verify” that this effort was a scam.
And it got more vicious from there. Due to the frozen funds and the confusion it caused us all, Andy’s surgery date was cancelled by Johns Hopkins. It was with great difficulty that we were able to persuade the doctor to be put Andy back into the surgical rotation. That cost him two weeks while he suffered from the most aggressive, invasive form of cancer.
[…]
After Andy was admitted to the hospital, the rumors turned into threats. A bounty was offered by the Bush right for anyone who could sneak into his hospital room. It was said he was getting a face lift. A telegram was sent just to see if it could be successfully delivered. The harassment was nonstop. And we tried to shield Andy from it, with less success than we would have liked.
[…]
Andy left the hospital and spent two weeks recovering at a friend’s house, learning how to eat again, learning how to move, weaning himself from the morphine that he’d needed post surgery. During this time, one of his supporters in Baltimore had her car vandalized – a message was sent. Shortly after he left to return to Seattle, his second East Coast hostess was stalked to her home and watched as someone tried to open her front door. His supporters everywhere were systematically intimidated and all the while, they tried to keep it from Andy.
Andy then went back home to Seattle, looking forward to a medical course of chemotherapy and radiation. Once he arrived, he found that an anonymous tipster had managed to get his Medicaid shut down. It took us two weeks to get him back in the system. Andy had anaplastic pancreatic cancer and was again forced to wait weeks for follow up care.
By this time, Andy’s stalkers had set up a website. It purported to be concerned that the funds for his surgery were raised fraudulently. Thankfully by this time, Andy spent very time on line. But it wore on his core advocates who were repeatedly attacked, defamed and baited.
And this:
(Same link as my 19.)
mc @ 13
I guess me too….My first thought last week when the “terror” attack on Bhutto’s convoy went off was “false flag” attack. How long before martial law is declared? God, I’m getting too good at this…
Dick Cheney controls Tim Russert, too.
P J Evans @ 11
He also plans for the next brush harvest at his brush ranch.
valletta @ 26
Exactly. It was a botched bombing.
JF @ 15
It’s a practice run. I wonder if they’re planning to bring in Blackwater “contractors” from other countries.
Cheenee will do anything to stop Bhutto from assuming any kind of power, because he can’t control her.
Doonesbury is digging into the role of “Lord Cheney” these days. Here’s a link to yesterday’s strip, where the story line begins, and you can move from there to today’s strip as well. Looks like His Lordship could be in for quite a week.
Apparently the above story is two years old. My bad.
Silencers.
Shouldn’t Congress be imposing sanctions and or ending all financial and military support of Musarraf’s government.. right now?
Frank Probst @ 22
It’s not a coincidence or incompetence. With Cheney running foreign policy, it makes sense that staffing decisions would be based on ensuring as little pushback as possible from diplomatic personnel.
Loo Hoo @ 30
A large scale simulation, to see what happens.
No one in government in power seems to question anything as the Bush train to a fascist state chugs rapidly on the track propelled with “Democratic fuel.” The rubber stamp kids, all hot air with their mouths but Bush lap dogs when it comes to the 11-8 vote that gave Grandpa Waterboard and Material Witness Abuse Mukasey a big butt kick into his nomination voting with of course all 9 Republicans in lock step with airhead Wifi and facade Schumer to Fascist Nation.
selise @ 9
Irony is not dead.
Reading about the KY Guv’s race is showing how the nation is descending in absolute, unmitigated madness.
Beleaguered Repud Fletcher has posted the ten commandments in the capital rotunda and anonymous calls smearing Beshear as a homo-lover are blanketing the state.
Now, thanks to Fu*k Schumer, Dick Cheney is going to have another fucking fool to push his abominable agenda.
Yeah Mukasey, you’ve made a deal with THE DEVIL. But you’ll be a good American and follow orders.
-GSD
solai @ 14
i have not been following that… other than reading some press releases and reports.
doesn’t look like anything has happened so far today. just fyi, some good resources for what’s currently going on in the house:
the daily leader from hoyer’s office on the planned schedule and what bills & resolutions are planned for the day.
the floor summary from the clerk: a timeline of what’s already happened today.
c-span’s archive from the house floor: – video, timeline, still pics and statement transcripts for the day. updated in almost real time – except the video is about 1-2 hours delayed and the transcripts seem to be added the next day.
I made the point when pakistan first went to martial law;
cheney directed that action, this is a trial balloon girls and boys, batten down hatches, we’re gettin some of this martial law
cheney GUARANTEED there would be a republican in office in o8
I’m not that surprised the US lacks experts on Pakistan. The history, politics, and makeup of that country are extremely complex. Its many ethnicities, rife corruption, bloody and bloodless coups, shifting political and sometimes treacherous alliances, have only compounded that complexity. The military is also deeply embedded in all aspects of life in Pakistan.
One clarification: There’s been some confusion in US MSM about whether Musharraf declared a state of emergency or martial law or both. He susupended the Constitution and targeted the legal establishment by replacing the Supreme Court Chief Justice with one of his own (Musharraf’s) cronies. (BTW, this is why lawyers are up in arms and have taken to the streets.) So this is a state of emergency and not martial law.
He left parliament intact. If he had dissolved parliament as well, then it would be martial law.
“Musharraf held talks with visiting US Central Command chief Admiral William Fallon (as in we won’t attack Iran on my watch, Fallon – my insert/LS)in Islamabad on Friday at about the same time as the missile attack in the Islamist stronghold of North Waziristan bordering Afghanistan.
Residents said drones flew over the village of Danday Darpakhel before two missiles hit, one of which destroyed a house formerly owned by Mullah Dadullah, the late Taliban military commander killed in Afghanistan in May 2007.
It was not clear who fired the missiles. Pakistan’s army said it was not involved while the US-led coalition in Afghanistan, the only force known to operate drones in the area, said it was not aware of any activity.”
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/P…..22007.html
Cheney has Ottomans syndrome.. I think he wants to draw and implement a new map of the Mid East.
Hugh @ 39
Irony is exhausted from forced overuse.
LS @ 8
If that is true then we are getting a preview of what is in NSPD-51..The emergency plan that Vic Fazio wanted to see and was told to go fuck himself.
link
Hmmm. Pakistan policy is being run out of Cheney’s office and 10 billion has gone to Pakistan since 9/11. Can you say “kickbacks?” Iraq policy is run out of Cheney’s office and Halliburton’s gotten billions since the invasion. He ain’t Darth Vader, folks. That makes him way too noble. Uncle Dick’s in it for the benjamins.
LS @ 34
Three shots to the forehead.
[mod note; We assume this is a reference to the sad fate of Pat Tillman.]
Chetnolian @ 21
I doubt that Dick Cheney had anything to do with the martial law declaration. Musharraf knows that beyond a few critical words Bush and Cheney will do nothing and will keep the aid coming.
The reason for the declaration I thought was fairly clear. Musharraf acted preemptively to avoid a Supreme Court decision which would have stripped him of the Presidency if he kept his post as head of the military.
If I were W, I’d be worried about the Cheenee camp. Cheenee can’t ever get elected…but he could takeover permanently, if he “had” to, and call it a State of Emergency.
perris @ 42:
Pakistan is not currently under martial law. See my 43.
dalloway @ 48
I wish that’s all it was-just good old-fashioned corruption.
No, this is a megalomaniac’s dream of unfettered power. The dough’s just icing on the cake to spread around to those friends (and foes) who would challenge that power.
Biodun @ 43
Well except that I believe he has already announced that Parliament will be dissolved November 15.
Our good buddy Darrell Issa is helping to finance the electoral change in California.
Can’t have fair elections.
If Addington was not the author of the wording of the Declaration of Emergency, then I would think Cheenee would want to hire the writer. The carefully crafted language is all too suspicious. JMHO
Meanwhile the religious folks in Israel have been taking polls.
The results:
“The real Rabin legacy should be sought on the soccer fields, in the classrooms, the outposts, the yeshivas, among the secular, the religious and the traditional; in fact, everywhere in the country where – according to surveys – 38 percent of the religious public view Yigal Amir(Rabin’s assassin) as a hero.”
Fascists and lunatics are crawling out of every corner of the world. The Iraq, US, Israel, Pakistan, Turkey, Iran, Russia, Burma……
-GSD
Link:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/920701.html
And also this:
(Same link as my 19.)
If the US response to any foreign crisis is ham-handed, incompetent and based on ideological wishful thinking is there any doubt that Cheney and his staff have once again prevailed?
I must take issue on the point about “lawfare” and who has provided whom the template. The idiot wing of GOP has actually waged a very successful war against the rule of law, lawyers and the judiciary and they have done it in relatively subtle and peaceful ways, e.g.,”tort reform”, questioning the need for any regulation of corporate activity, packing the judiciary, subverting the DOJ, and selective enforcement of laws. Pervez decided to achieve the same results in less time with the result that even the Bush Administration has to appear to be wringing its hands.
OT…
link
Hugh @ 54:
Yep. In ten days or so, the country might then slide under martial law. We’ll see what happens before then though. From my sources, things are extremely fluid in the country right now. No one really knows what’s going to happen next. Not even Musharraf himself. See my 25.
Meanwhile, it appears that Israel and Hezbollah are gearing up for round II.
Hezbollah holds manuevers, Israel drops flairs.
This entire region is rumbling and ready to erupt like Mt. Vesuvius.
What will be the trigger?
-GSD
-GSD
Loo Hoo @ 55
Longer version: Democracy is far too important a matter to be left to the whims of voters.
Also: Musharraff has locked down the media (except the government propaganda ones), including the foreign press*, but so far has done nothing about the Internet. So several blogs are making it out of the country.
*Although NBC’s Richard Engel transmitted from there yesterday…
Biodun @ 61
Seeing how much of Musharraf’s efforts are aimed against lawyers and the judiciary, I think that it is already martial law in everything but name.
Also I misspoke above. The Supreme Court ruling in the pipeline would have found Musharraf ineligible to run for the Presidency in the January elections.
There is one more odd scenario to consider. Pakistan has 50-75 nukes. If the danger of the nukes falling into “Taliban” hands becomes truly imminent, it could precipitate an action by the US to take some form of military action in order to secure them. Just a thought.
India has good reason to worry about Pakistan’s nukes as well.
The most dangerous thing in the world is people deciding that they’ll never have a better chance, that it’s “now or never.”
GSD @ 62
Ace Sec’y of State Condi will gaze at them sternly, so they’re bound to behave.
Hugh @ 65:
Nope. Not according to the Pakistani Constitution. But he has already suspended that. We’re going around in circles…*g*
Bottom line: Musharraf seems to have dug himself into a hole, and is figuring out how to get out of it. And Bhutto might be switching sides (whatever this might mean)because she doesn’t want to be arrested. And the US is pinning its hopes on her to help bring Pakistan “back to democracy.” Good luck there.
LS @ 66
Pakistan’s military will go to great lengths to maintain control of its nukes not because they are particularly concerned with what we would do but what they fear the Indians might do.
Do we have any info on how Pakistan’s nukes are configured? Gravity bombs, SCUD warheads, tactical artillery….anyone have any idea?
Pakistan’s Chief Justice is urging people to resist emergency rule.
He’s doing more for his country than a lot of our ‘leaders’ are for ours.
RonD @ 67
Word has it that Musharraf has used most of the $10 billion that he’s gotten from the US (to help fight the War on Terror) to buy arms for the possibility of a ground war with India. I think there’s wide agreement by just about everyone that a nuclear war with India will be catastrophic not only for South Asia but also for the whole world. (The domino effect.) China will intervene on behalf of Pakistan (China enabled its nuclear weaponry after all), and the US might then intervene on behalf of India.
To to sound alarmist here: Pakistan is probably the most dangerous spot in the world right now. A world-security risk.
In regard to “Is the President doing anything other than flouncing about on his bike?” — the answer is ABSOLUTELY! Remember that he stated a couple of weeks ago that he vetoes bills to show that he is relevant…
Bustednuckles @ 46
like everything else during the cheeneebu$hco. regime,
irony has been hollowed out.
now we are left with just tin-ery
There has been quite a bit of discussion of the Ron Paul phenomenon. So, FWIW, here are some resources:
This is by Glenn Greenwald and focuses mostly on what’s right with Paul and his campaign:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/g…..index.html
Here’s one by Kos that focuses on what’s successful about Paul’s campaign:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…..11258/6081
Here is the first of a four-part article that focuses on what is wrong with Ron Paul:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/5/15/124912/740
Biodun @ 69
Bhutto was said to be corrupt as well.
RonD @ 71
The FBI believes their nuclear arsenal is comprised mainly of FBNWs – Falafel Based Nuclear Warheads.
RonD @ 71
All these different “components” have been separated and scattered all over the country. But they can reassembled just like that.
I am shocked, shocked, that the Department of Homeland Stupidity employees, dress up in “dark face”. ThinkProgress links to the story about “The Most Original Costume”, at Homeland Stupidity. awarded by Julie Myers, head of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement division. Supposedly, there is a photo.
This clearly shows radical right extremists are now in control of the government. I am sure Hannity will righteously condemn this racist outrage, by government security personnel.
RonD @ 71
From their missile testing, I would assume IRBM delivery.
Badwater @ 68
And if they do get out of line, why, she’ll give them a quick kick in the keister with her
jackgo-go boots.GSD @ 57 Fletcher can get a Madonna tatooed on his butt and drive around mooning the state, it ain’t gonna change things.
He’s done.
But he also managed to take the Dem who was SUPPOSED to prosecute him down with him. Stumbo made a deal with the devil to let Fletcher walk and then saw his own hopes to become gov die as his popularity and backing nosedived.
Not that there should be a lesson there for anyone.
So, I wonder how long it will take Japan, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Brazil to start nuclear-weapons programs?
(If they aren’t already).
Biodun @ 73
I agree that it would be a catastrophe but both Pakistan and India would go to great lengths to avoid a nuclear exchange. And the Chinese won’t risk their hides for anyone so they would not enter directly into the conflict.
Mary @ 83
I do love it that my home state is turning blue once again.
Frank33 @ 80
Julie Myers is married to John Woods, the Gonzales-appointed US Attorney in Springfield Missouri.
RonD @ 71
IIRC, they have successfully tested ballistic missles of sufficient range to reach much or all of India.
Off on the business of the Queen. See everyone later.
Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal:
My bold.
Eureka Springs @ 87
and her Uncle is former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Richard Myers
how convenient
Elliott @ 91
And, despite strong competition for the honor, may have been the least qualified for the position.
And obviously this doesn’t bode well:
(Same link as my 90.)
Here’s what I’m talking about:
We know that ABC does the WH bidding…I expect that we will soon hear something like, “Al-Qaeda will not be allowed to come into possession of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal – nothing is off the table”.
“ABC News correspondent Jim Sciutto reports that officials believe there is a “very real” possibility that those weapons could fall into the wrong hands.
“The nightmare scenario for US officials,” Sciutto says, “that a government collapse could put Pakistan’s nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorists.”
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/….._1106.html
I apologize if this is redundant–I don’t have time to read every note as I should be out the door already. But this is important, if you haven’t already mentioned it. A colleague of Juan Cole’s, Barnett Rubin, has been in Islamabad (leaving today). Here’s a very interesting post of his from over the weekend about Musharref, Cheney and “lawfare”. positively chilling. (text).
Peace.
Steve-AR @ 92
that appointment still irks me.
Pakistan and India have been in a pissing match for years over the disputed Kashmir region.
They have been lobbing shells over their borders off and on for a long time.
A full fledged war between Pakistan and India would be a grenade in a bucket being so close to the Middle East.
vOTe
I voted today, was #234, the merry poll workers seemed to think it was a pretty good turnout for a non-national election.
Earlier at lunchtime I walked past another polling place, lots of activity there.
Laura Doty @ 95
Laura, thanks for the link. No one could make this shit up and sell it for fiction.
Elliott @ 98
Virginia voters, the close State Senate races will depend on turnout. Please vote and call your friends and neighbors.
OT, but part of the police state “services”
I was searching for canned ham, and found this link where one can buy products for “incarcerated loved ones.” Is the police state so formalized? wonder about kick-backs? vendor selection? delivery?
http://www.upnorthservices.com…..ts_id=1161
….. back to regular viewing.
Here’s the Gray Lady on this situation:
Mary @ 83
Do these idiots EVER learn that the when you deal with people who are treacherous, you invite the treachery on yourself.
-GSD
New thread from Christy.
A Day In The Life
new thread
Whether Pakistan was an officially sanctioned “dry run” for our own crackdown, or whether Musharef is acting independently of Cheney’s office, I think we can all be sure the neo-cons are taking diligent notes.
I am becoming gravely concerned right now. Despite all my gallows humor, until today, I’ve really felt that we would be able to head off any serious challenges to democracy before matters got too serious, but I’m starting to feel we’re already past the tipping point and our own Night of the Long Knives is immanent.
As if to punctuate my fears I saw an actual skinhead couple at the Dollar General while on my lunch hour. They each had Confederate Flags embroidered on the back of their jean jackets, and coincidentally they were parked next to me and as I got into my car I noticed a shiny silver swastika medallion hanging from their rear view mirror.
I’ve never seen anything like that in this small, rural town.
SufiLizard @ 106
Ron Paul supporters; no snark intended.
Biodun @ 19
What I want to know is, Why don’t they give a damn what the rest of the world–let alone the people of Pakistan–are going to think of us for propping up Mushareff and checking Bhutto? They know the world is going to hate us and rally behind bin Laden.
Same thing with Iran. BushCo want to unite the Moslem world against us. The “us” he represents isn’t you and me, it’s interests who can’t vote and rely on fear and smear to sway the public into following their agenda.
wigwam @ 76
Interesting articles.
But how can one be a strict Constitutionalist (as Paul asserts he is) and ignore that the Constitution defines a natural-born citizen as well “BORN”…not “CONCEIVED”. The Constitution has no mention of embryos having any sort of Constitutional protections at all. Persons are BORN.
As for Paul being “new”, I actually find him quite “old”. There were many anti-immigration, laissez-faire free-market, isolationist types from about 1880-1940. These groups railed against immigrants from every ethnic group conceivable (Irish, Catholic, Italian, Easter European, Chines, Japanese, Hispanic, etc.). They were generally anti-Union, because, they argued…collective groups of workers impaired the free market. They opposed involvement in the first and second World War, and the Spanish-American War…asking why the US should take sides in foreign “entanglements”. They also opposed efforts by the Federal Government to expand its involvement in State activities. These were, of course, the States Rights movements that argued that the Constitution also limited the activities of the Federal Government to those specifically enunciated by the Constution. Schools, roads, highways, healthcare, dams, parks, hospitals, and a bevy of other Federal mandates and activities were unConstitutional. I don’t know where Paul sits on the gold-standard!
So the Ron Paul phenomenon is actually not so different from these movements. It is appealing to progessives because Paul represents a counter to the authoritarian state and imperialistic war. But it would be dangerous to support such a movement that would move on to other agendas when the Iraq War was over. As has been pointed out, the Bush Administration was born through the support of people like Grover Norquist, whose intent was to destroy government through running into the group.
Bush succeeded with the first stage. Ron Paul is the second.
Loo Hoo @ 55
Is he a slow learner or what? The recall campaign he led kinda backfired on him, dinnit?
Let me get this straight. Pakistan has nukes, coddles Taliban and Al Quaeda and we do nothing. The same guy that lied us into war?
Ok it is official, Osama bin Laden must work for the CIA. Because if we are coddling people supposedly helping him…well that is where it leads me logically.
Bushco = Foreign Policy Rediculousness
I’ve been wondering what Cheney is up to. He’s been working on getting total and ultimate control of the world.
valletta @ 26
I suspect Bushies told Bhutto we’d support her (or even that a deal had already been worked out for power-sharing) and then when she went back the hammer came down. It’s pretty clear they were trying to kill her, so Musharraf would be in the clear to take care of his Supreme Court (as he has) and continue in power.
But, Bhutto escaped, so the future isn’t so clear. In a strange way it resembles Myanmar where there is a military dictator and the democratic opposition is represented by a woman limited to home confinement.
Will Democracy win out? Time will tell, but Bhutto had better continue to be very very careful.
Steve-AR @ 99
From the chilling article,
This quote needs to be verified.