I found this out from a Brit friend of mine and damned near choked:
Lloyds TSB and Barclays have been telling British customers who have financial dealings with Cuba to take their business elsewhere. Why? Because they’re scared. Not of the British government – which nominally encourages trade with Cuba and has a policy of positive engagement with the island – but of the US.
Blinded by rabid anti-socialist, anti-Castro sentiment, for 48 years the US has conducted a vendetta against this peaceful Caribbean island by imposing a crippling economic blockade, one that has wilfully impoverished the Cuban people and been roundly condemned for 16 years running by the UN General Assembly. In 2007, 184 countries, including the UK, voted against it – only four didn’t. The whole world, apart from the US, its thuggish sidekick, Israel, and a couple of obscure statelets, believes this punitive blockade should be lifted.
Cuba appears on America’s blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism, along with pariah states such as Sudan and North Korea. US legislation has long criminalised any company doing business with Cuba, and it is enforced with McCarthyite zeal – American business people have been fined and imprisoned. Even a director’s fact-finding visit to the island could land a US company in trouble.
This is just blitheringly stupid. More actual terrorism has been tied to the hardcores within the Cuban exile community — a hardcore group run largely by the children and grandchildren of the mobsters and pimps who fled to Miami rather than try to live upright lives under Castro — than has ever been linked to the Bearded One. (Prime examples of which can be found here.)
As dumb as that is, there’s something even dumber in the works: Bush wants to invade Iran.
Yupper — yet another charming "war of choice" that will, if anything, be more devastating than the last one.
Know how gas has nearly tripled in price at the pump under Bush? Guess what happens when Iran and its newfound buddy Russia shut off the Straits of Hormuz. That’s right, kiddies: $20 a gallon gas is staring us in the face. In fact, the price of gas worldwide will skyrocket, causing a global depression that will rival if not exceed the infamous worldwide depression of the 1930s in terms of pain inflicted. That, and the murder of tens of thousands of Iranians — and the endangerment of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What’s more, the Iranians know full well what he intends to do, at the behest of the neocon/Likudnik/Kadimaite military-industrial complex, and are preparing for it.
– The London Times reports that Iran is targeting its Shahab-3B missiles, which have a range of 1,250 miles, to take out the nuclear warheads Israel says it doesn’t have but which are the worst-kept secret in arms control.
– Say bye-bye to the Straits of Hormuz, say hello to $20-a-gallon gas: Iran will shut down the Straits at the first sign of an attack.
– Just in case anyone thought that Iran wasn’t serious about defending itself: 320,000 mass graves are being pre-dug in border provinces to handle what the Iranians expect to be a full land assault on their country.
Call your congresscritters now. Tell them that you won’t stand for this nonsense. Tell them that they don’t have to cower every time a Likudnik nutcase like John Bolton clears his throat — sane Jews and true friends of the Jewish nation and people now have a progressive alternative, J Street.
By the way, regarding the first stupidity I referenced: Why is it that Barclays turns up its nose at Castro yet cuddles up to Mugabe? Especially when the UK doesn’t officially punish activity with Cuba, but does punish activity with Zimbabwe.
Related posts:
- Ambinder: Sorry I Was So Stupid, But I Was Right to Be Stupid
- Biden on Iran: ‘Some Real Doubt’ About The Electoral Outcome
- Valuing Democracy: Iran, Iraq and the War Supplemental
- Al-Qaida Doesn’t Need Your Stupid Safe Havens
- Second Iranian Nuclear Facility Discovered; Obama, Brown, Sarkozy Pledge Sanctions Unless IAEA is Allowed to Investigate
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You are doing some very serious truthing, PW.
It’s about time …
And how much we can waste.
Hi, PW.
Most excellent post, PW. A really nice dose of reality.
And beats all the sky is falling crap I’ve seen all day.
Hey, people have mocked Sy Hersh when some of his Iran-related predictions haven’t come to pass. I make the argument that they didn’t come to pass precisely because he made them.
(((Feurae))) and you too, D.
And what happened to Orlando Bosch, the Cuban who planted the bomb on the cuban airlines plane that killed 73 people. Are we still harboring terrorists in our country. Oh he was anti-castro so I am not sure that he counts.
Right on.
As for the other bit of stupidity, note that Barclays, they who suddenly won’t deal with Cuba, have no problems with dealing with Mugabe, as a Google search shows.
Luckily the Mustache Pete’s in Miami are getting as old as Fidel and the younger crowd is veering away from their ideas and control.
Mugabe is setting himself up to follow in Rafael Trujillo’s footsteps.
PW, I am making Senate and Congressional phone calls over this week of July 4th about my outrage about immunity, but I am adding my outrage about this Iran situation. And how the “gang of 8″ whom I am ready to call for impeachment (can we do that–who are they, anyway, besides Pelosi, Reid, too???), authorized $400 million for covert Iran operations, going against advice of our Pentagon and Gates. What is with that??? Secret covert enabling of neocon activity by our Dem leadership. That congressional checkbook contains MY and OUR money that they gave to Crazy Baby Bush who seems to have had blank checks all his life to wreak his INSANE AMORAL will with.
That’s exactly it.
Be a white anticommunist Christian and you’re no longer a “terrorist” — you’re some poor misunderstood guy.
Remember when the Murrah Building was blown up in Oklahoma City?
Rush and his buddies were all over AM radio talking about how we were going to get the evil Arabs that did this and make them pay.
Then it was found that it wasn’t Arabs, but white Americans of the same type as listened to Rush, that did it — and suddenly Rush was all “we must try to understand these people”. See, motive only exists for white people. White American people, to be exact.
Evening Phoenix Woman and Firedogs -
would love to hear from someone more knowledgeable than I (just about everyone) as to the Chinese response on the Straits of Hormuz being choked ?
and would an attack be timed with the Olympics as a means of keeping the inital Chinese response tamped down ??
;~D
I just haven’t found that calling or writing congresscritters seems to have much effect (Pelosi, anyone?) All I want to know is where is Cheney stashing his money — certainly not in American dollars. Find me that information, and I will be satisfied. The rest of it is tilting at windmills.
The Chinese response would be an immediate, massive, unloading of US debt and currency on the open market.
I agree, ’tis sad what passes for adult intelligence these days, PW.
Any thoughful person would likely feel compelled, by reason, to agree.
If they look like us, if they’re on ‘our side’ (whatever that is at the time), they can’t possibly be terrorists, they must be freedom fighters or patriots. [/snark]
I have a question: can someone ask Obama why he’s soft on Republicans and hard on Democrats?
Good piece. Especially like the part on Iran.
Right off the top of my head I think the response from the other countries participating in the games might be to leave in protest against continued US participation in the games. I think this would be as a strong message any government could give its people about standing up for basic principles and international law. It would definitely put the US in the world’s shitter.
As for the Chinese, your guess is as good as mine.
I hope someone has an in and can get that question asked. Otherwise I see my deep fear coming true: McCain wins.
My right wing brother mentioned that we should be concerned about China’s nuclear power being used against us and I said why. They could tank our economy in a flash by unloading dollars onto the market.
Does another ‘Feurae’ yet reside with you SD?
BTW, the creator of the name is most-pleased that you have appreciated the name sufficient to desire to bestow it further.
;~D
When Dodd during his campaign asked for phone calls and emails about FISA, they came through and had results and dismayed even Dodd. Unfortunately, that kind of activity did not and does not get sustained or taken advantage of. There are also so many fires going on, focusing on one and channelling energy there is tough. So many “fresh hells” as D. Parker calls them.
What is effective activism? The MSM manages to ignore or profoundly minimize collecting on the streets. I want to do my modest bit. I am not as brave as some activists I know who really put it on the line. Show up dressed like Gitmo detainees, etc. But I want to ramp up my activism, confront knee-jerk conservative family and friends. And I make my phone calls and hope that maybe with one individual they will impact.
Not yet. Samm hasn’t decided what she wants to do so I get to play the waiting game. Which I’m very, very good at.
Yes, there are times when BIG bucks have the same affect as a Big bomb.
Probably been quite a few such ‘explosions’ over the last six decades.
Patience is.
;~D
To paraphrase from the 60s, “If you are not an active part of the solution, you are contributing to the deadweight of the problem.”
Talking in general terms… myself, unfortunately, included.
Well, let’s consult our geography maps.
Russia has a much closer link to Iran’s oil, via the Caspian. Since Russia’s own oil reserves — and its chances at a hold over Europe, which is frantically trying to get onto wind and sea power in order to evade Russian dominance of its affairs — have been dropping, a partnership with Iran would be just the thing to boost Russia’s standing as ours lessens.
And I’m very pleased that it was created. Who knows, another tiger may cross my path before Kitty (jeez I hate that name.) I’d just have to find another name for her. Feurae went to the top of the list. Some lucky tiger will get it.
Are you ‘remembering’ that or are you an Historian?
;~D
Don’t try to take the world on your shoulders, Libby. These times are much different than the 60s. We’ll get our chance, hopefully before the whole thing collapses.
watching a butterfly in an open field. All day.
PW – Might I suggest a better graphic for this article?
A ‘company’ is most pleased, SD.
Verily.
Or, sitting in a field waiting for some runaway horses’ curiousity to draw them over.
Time unfolds ….
If the straits get closed, I would expect actual physical shortages and rationing, btw.
Hmp. I tried calling up http://firedoglake.com/ and got “Please stand by,” added “emptywheel” before fire… and got her section just fine, clicked on this section using the “From the blogs” box and THAT works fine.
Very puzzling. Anyway, seems to me that an attack on Iran would be a repeat of the Athenian attack on Syracuse around 200 BC. It would be a complete disaster that might cost us an army.
Oh man, I can just see the instant gratification society dealing with that.
People will just park their SUVs and live in them.
Some of us keep trying. The frustration is the result of the non-reaction we get.
Some days I think there’s an invisible sound-absorbing wall around DC. It’s either that or massive hallucinations on the part of elected officials, so that they think we actually believe what they tell us.
Seymour Hersh is the little boy who cried wolf on Iran. I think it’s all baloney.
ummmm, hmmmm, let’s see…..
size and access of oil reserves in the world-to do list-
#1 oil reserves, saudi arabia. check.
#3 oil reserves, irak. check.
#2 oil reserves, hmmm, give you one guess…..
check.
======
and mentioned above,
lord peter levene, chairman of lloyd’s was on charlie rose pbs last thursday. don’t remember if he brought cuba up or not
http://www.charlierose.com/sho…..of-lloyd-s
couldn’t find transcript page for us dialup users…..
Will it be termed a ’sacrifice’ or a ‘war tax’.
Or, will it morph into the next GREAT DISGRUNTALMENT.
As you’ve said, Ian, another ‘great’ one is on the way, the skids are greased …
I suspect my congresscritter may spend the weekend in DC. He doesn’t seem to do vacations, just more hearings ….
Poster on my college dorm room wall WAY BACK WHEN. :)
I remember getting to shake hands with Robert Kennedy. A nice moment. Protested bombing of Cambodia. Boycotted classes, etc. Righteousness and idealism warmed the soul.
I thought during the 60s we had saved the world for humanity. Decades later wondered what happened when my old anti-VietNam buds were praising the first Iraq War. What happened to that generation of activists? Maybe we were more of a minority than I thought. Maybe we were better at talking the talk than walking the walk. Maybe life got serious, and college luxury time for activism from our anti-authority figure bonding was long gone.
And after 9-11 … there was a wave of religiosity and patriotism that tolerated no nuances for questioning of authority (and need for vengeance and self protection). And Bush et al. grabbed hold of that window. It was like a less-messy McCarthyism and they took full advantage of a wounded nation.
Good comparison. Also resulted in a major shakeup in Athens if I remember my Thucydides.
pw at 29–and russia can give iran gas. and water. and other resources too many to list.
If you dig this post, Digg it HERE!
…the skids are greased …
“skids” meaning congresscowards?
Two questions:
Have you read the article in full?
Have you ever heard of the Phoenix Program?
I come down on the “probably won’t happen” side myself. But I don’t come down on the “certainly won’t happen” side. Bush and co. have proved over the years that they don’t make decisions the same way normal folks do. At this point predicting yae or nae practically comes down to predicting one man, and that makes it tricky.
It’s amazing to me sometimes when I think back to the 60s and they seemed so much more optimistic than now– and we grew up with the bomb hanging over us! Maybe the fact that the world could end any time brought out the best in us. Remember the music back then? Our generation sang about war and social issues. I miss those days.
thanks. It wasn’t that I wasn’t thinking of Russia – just recalled the Chinese signing 20 year Iranian deal in 06. they are as addicted as we are and knew they wouldn’t take kindly to someone turning off the spigot – just look at their ‘precautions’ at the chokepoints
and thanks all for responding about the economic impact – I knew that part and now am wondering why Leadership staffers don’t :D
damn look at you hippies and your military history upthread – Gilliard would be proud
I read a book recently called A New Earth that gives our generation then credit for being iconoclasts in a way, of blasting through the rigid, collective, narcissistic, status-quo American ego! I think we are rallying now to do the same thing.
Yeah, loved that music. From the heart … whether folk or angry rock.
No, I haven’t read the articles. Read the prior ones. Have thought about it a lot. Tired of the subject. Don’t dought that some (Vice) want to do it, or that U.S. is doing its best to provoke an incident. It’s just that there’s been so much advance warning with nothing happening that I decided that it probably won’t. Love Seymour Hersh, don’t doubt his sources, just that he doesn’t have people who make final decisions.
Riesz … I am trying to channel the 60s life force back into myself. :)
The relatives and friends I am harassing to make the phone calls along with me are probably willing me to let it rest.
A most excellent post, PW.
Lots and lots of truth as DWBartoo noted in #1.
Until we are prepared to deal with all the third rails and what is commonly referred to as the “prevailing wisdom” (sophistry, imho) we’re never going to become the America I wish so much for and we will be responsible.
Don’t listen to them.
This talk about the 60s reminded me, I just got a new Laura Nyro CD and I haven’t played it yet! I’m putting it on right now!
I personally think that after Vietnam, the 60’s ‘weekend warriors began to ponder their portfolios, and thereby decided that fun was fun but it was time to ‘grow up’ and out and all over.
The siren call of COMFORT and instant Nirvana aka ‘effective demand’ or its accumulation became of greater interest than tuning in and …
Time to take the Bull by the horns of no dilemma, it was.
Faint hearts sought their first big round of ’security’; it being a scary and exhausted time …
One could almost smell St. Ronnie on the horizon … or so it seemed.
And we began to slouch towards Bethlehem …
But everything changed, after 911 and even Bethlehem seemed small potatoes, and golden parachutes were not enough, it was platinum, and now, the sky is the limit, but, sadly, our horizons have begun to shrink and the pinched hearts of the ruling classes are very much preturbed.
We are closer to rapture almost every single day, but with the northwest passage now at our disposal, I think we’ll go over the top.
;~D
Dugg.
Didn’t Conyers say that if we invaded Iran, he’d start impeachment hearings?
Trouble is, Sy Hersch explains that Cheney plans to do it with Special Forces, so this invasion will not be televised. I think he aims to provoke Iran into defending itself before TV cameras– which our clear-eyed WH will promptly declare to be an “unwarranted attack” and use it to create a Gulf of Tonkin situation justifying a pretext for war.
It is absolutely pitiful how spineless our Congress has become. It has wittingly tied both hands behind its own back (impeachment, inherent contempt), and then complains and whines about not being able to do anything. Sheesh.
Bobin HI
I was really in denial about the extent of the deafness of the MSM until I started working for Edwards. Then I got to see the short shrift he and the “less glam” candidates were getting, by the TV talking heads and personalities. And when I showed up for demonstrations of thousands in NYC and it got no airtime or accuracy of numbers.
I think it is great we keep preaching to the choir and processing the horror on sites like this, we need to do “reality checks” with each other, but to walk the walk of activism. Where to go for that?
There is that wall. J Edwards said the gated community wall now went around the WH. That the two Americas was divided between the WH and the rest of the country. Pretty strong image. Only lets add Congress and SC within that walled bastion and the rest of us outside.
Like when Ian wrote about Burma and the regime’s little gated community away from the pathetic struggling for life underclass.
it was Biden initially, Conyers may have chimed in later
Okay.
Probably trying to lull us into a false sense of security. I put nothing beyond what they’ll do. Be prepared for a September/October surprise.
Biden can’t initiate impeachment proceedings. Only the House can do that.
But he can certainly encourage the House to do it.
Laura Nyro was great! Maybe I’ll drag out the dusty box of vinyls I should have discarded long ago. :)
But, see, it’s just a bit too soon to have full impact upon election. Ease back, they’ll get to it just at the right time. Rove is working on the timing.
Really? A “best of,” or what? Love/d her stuff.
I don’t believe him– he was singing about impeachment with the Downing Street memos and other stuff and all we got was nuthin’.
(oh and btw, guess whose speaking at Monticello on Independence Day?
George W. Bush.)
When they go, we can use their land to grow decent crops.
DW, so well said. Especially liked:
:) Yeah, even some of the Chicago 7 went off to do transcendental meditation, right? And the Beatles…
Security and self-help, focus on self-improvement. Trying to be less codepedent. I think this world could use some healthy co-dependency, i.e., commitment to the common good.
Pendulum time, I guess.
No weekend warrior Wesley Clark. He’s standing by his comments on Face–as well he should, says I–refusing to be steamrollered by the BBQ media.
re my 71
whosewho’s;(
If they didn’t impeach Bush over Iraq, why would they do anything after he attacks Iran? I don’t think the dems would impeach bush in any circumstance. Impeachment is reserved for lies about blowjobs.
The only way to fix things is going to be long term, replacing almost every last dem.
Seems to me that this is a “flower war” as the ancient aztecs would term it. It’s all about winning florida. No one really gives a shit about Cuba anymore except the Cubans who evendeserted the place fifty years ago..even the second generation Cuban refugees are about over it…it’s just a thing to pass a few stupid laws about for votes and ignore.
Someone should take out full page ads in major U.S. newspapers, explaining in plain English the “Gulf of Tonkin” strategy that many of us suspect may be in the works for Iran, and putting the Administration on notice that any cry of “Iran attacked us!” will be viewed as a lie meant to scare the American people into supporting another war. The ads should say, they will deny it now, but when it happens, remember this prediction.
Or has someone already done that?
Or does anybody still read the newspapers?
Tom should rise up and smite him. He’s already spinning in his grave over what they’ve done to the Constitution, and I’m sure he’s a tad miffed at Billy “I’m always wrong and I’m a yellow elephant” Kristol too.
Yeah, Best of Laura Nyro. 2 CDs. Awesome.
‘Where to go for that’?
Out, libby, out amongst the people that we may share some hope with them, for truly they are frightened and know not what to think. They no longer ‘believe’ what they are told and the ‘center’ cannot hold anything but disaster.
So it is with the people that our fate lies, for the political class has forsaken them and their children and looks only to their own craven ends.
And ‘ends’ they are, for the easy path to fame and great fortune for the ‘untalented and unlovely’ has been closed by a landslide of truth and reality.
It just hasn’t sunk in yet.
Talk to the people, you will be surprised, and sometimes, but most often not, disappointed.
No one’s impeachin anyone bout nothin nohow. You heard it here first.
Someone should set up a seismometer to measure the effect of Jefferson’s spinning in his grave.
Jefferson went broke buyin books. Bush- not so much.
Actually Pelosi said it first
You’re sending me off to Amazon!
These are the people who are getting a special phone call from me:
THE GANG OF EIGHT!!!!! THANK YOU SY HERSCH!!!!
Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
John Boehner, Republican House Leader
Harry Reid, Democratic Senate Leader
Mitch McConnell, Republican Senate Leader
Silvestre Reyes (D), Chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Peter Hoekstra (R), Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
John D. Rockefeller, IV (D), Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
Kit Bond (R) Ranking Member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
Ah, Mr. Rockefeller, appears once again. FISA guy. Now this.
Chimpy’s attempt to ride Jefferson’s coattails into some degree of legitimacy reminds me of his praise for the enactment of the New GI Bill, which he and McCain fought against.
My Pet Goat is only $9.49 at Amazon.
We need to harness that energy… In more ways than one.
The White House announced today that the public is warming to Clusterfuck- he feels it in his public speaking appearances- they said that the polls are just plain wrong…
Fuckin idiots!
(oh and btw, guess whose speaking at Monticello on Independence Day?
George W. Bush.)
my kingdom for one well-aimed lightning strike…
Frankly, I think they’ve made it pretty darned clear.
Prolly get a hundred miles to the …whatever. *g*
Is that the autographed (by Chimpy) edition?
Love your spirit.
The polls are wrong, the intel is wrong, the dems are wrong. Guess no one is as
smartbig an idiot as bush.No, those are 3 for a dollah.
Anybody know if Jon Stewart is live tonight? I believe Colbert is on vacation…
Autographed by Shrub – $0.25
That visual makes me smile.
While I’m down with most of your post PW, the graves being dug in Iran?
A land invasion?
We’re not going in by land.
Not now.
It will all be by air.
Likely, the graves are for their own . . . I’ve seen references MADE to them BY Iranian’s, but NO one has said they are for the attackers . . . that I’ve seen . . . yet.
The line I’ve most oft seen, from a top line cleric and from the head of the Revolutionary Guard, is the graves are being prepared IN PREPARATION of the attack . . . . alas, it’s likely just quibble on my part.
The larger issue is certainly the sad one . . . if we DO bomb them, bad, bad things WILL happen.
And SouthernDragon, bravo below a thread or two down wherin you mention the gas pipeline deals!!! *G*
Recall, late 90’s The Taliban had a gas pipeline deal with the Russian’s and Germans, I believe, and told Cheney in ‘98 or so, to go Cheney hisself and his oil cartels.
N voila, we attack Afghanistan first chance, and no pipelines!! We did Afghanistan for that reason, not cuz of Bin Laden . . . . and because Afghanistan is the stepping stone into Iraq, and on to the rest, which were ordained by PNAC LONG ago to be taken down and out as part of USA Global Hegemony and control.
And as you mentioned, now there’s 3 gas pipeline deals, with India, China, and Russia and Pakistan AND IRAN all involved, and Turkmeinistan, of course, one of the SOURCES for the gas.
And deals with China and Russia with Iran for oil . . .
They won’t stand by idly . . . I don’t think.
The minute bombs start to fall on Iran, it’s REM time.
The End Of The World As We Know It.
Sigh.
Harumph, as usual . . . but quite halfhearted . . .
well, if we have a toilet paper shortage…
It’s not idiocy. It’s something much more dangerous — complete and utter delusion. The scary thing is that they probably BELIEVE that.
Course according to Rover- Clusterfuck reads a couple of really HARD books every week- this after tryin ta convince us that he hates books and intellectual pointy heads….
He’s the fuckin 24/7 political man- no real substance to him at all that wasn’t invented in 1990.
DW, thanks for the boost in morale.
Again, especially well said.
Have to go but enjoyed these exchanges. To be continued…. :)
Or evaluate it as an alternative energy source?
FunnyD
Absolutely!!! As Spencer Ackerman states below a thread or two . . . he’s been widely quoted, as has Sy Hersh, amongst the blogosphere, this past 72 hours . . . *G*
Pretty soon they’ll be paying people to take them.
looks like a rerun — Koppel. Again…
There is no one on that list who is willing to stand up for the populace. So be it.
Bush to leave the presidency and join the Harvard faculty in the dept of “really hard books”
There will be a protest on the 4th.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/34436
Hell, I’m up for that. Can use ‘em in the compost.
Either way, land or air, they’ll need the graves. And so will our boys and girls in Iraq.
complete and utter delusion. The scary thing is that they probably BELIEVE that.
You think that anyone has ever bothered to tell Georgie his audiences are hand-picked?
I don’t.
Plato detested democracy for reasons that should be perfectly obvious to the casual observor since the last seven years. It ain’t EVER gonna be pretty- and it’s based on lies and bullshit- but as Churchill allegedly said- it’s the worst system- except for all the others.
Stewart gets more vacation days than Carson ever did.
I could be wrong but I think agricultural missions are allowed to visit Cuba. In theory, it’s supposed to be about humanitarian aid but it is more about the clout of Agribusiness.
Re Wes Clark, not a big fan of his, but I agree with him about McCain. The media have created this narrative about him: maverick, straightshooter, reforer, tough on national security, etc. and they are not going to let any facts get in the way of it. If by being a pilot and a POW gives McCain the foreign policy and national security credentials to be President, then I expect any private would have similar experience to be Secretary of Defense.
Re Iran, an unspoken agenda of Bush seems to be to deal with each of the members of the Axis of Evil before he leaves office as a legacy thing. For Iraq, this means the SOFA status of forces agreement
For North Korea, it is the current agreement.
For Iran, ?
As I have said before an attack if there were one would probably come as early as September but late October is an especially good time due to the rapid lengthening of the nights. November and December also offer good possibilities. Currently I place the odds of an attack at about 70%. Just my WAG.
Newsflash!
“Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson has quite inexplicably, turned into a giant Tesla Coil and zapped President Bu$h right to the resturant at the end of the galaxy, Vice President Barnacle was also swept up in the static flashes and gone who knows where, even worse Madam Speaker Nancy No-table has also been spirited away, leaving the nation in great consternation …”
No further information is available at this time, Washinton is in disarray but Martha assures us that he will not seek the Presidency, saying, “Once was enough, dammit! Now leave us alone.
Ah, those were MEN in those days and real LADIES too.
Hah!
Yea, good point. There’s also the Battle of Salamis
Too funny, Bartoo!!
How can we subject Shrub and Barnicle to some Vogon poetry?
The duel thing kept 18th century politicians a bit more honest and civil. I am in favor of legalizing dueling among the political class…If ya get swiftboated- it’s pistols at daylight.
At least we’d have fewer of the lying bullshit artists.
Thanks for the inspiration, wang!
‘~D
Rockefeller is an archtypal DINO and a puppet of the Military Industrial and now Intelligence Complex.
Hafta be swords. These clowns are afraid of guns.
I called the Jefferson Foundation and left a message voicing my outrage that he would be permitted to speak there on July 4, our most patriotic day, after the way he has trashed the ideals that our founding fathers and especially Thomas Jefferson stood for. Their voice mailbox is not full–yet.
LOL the recording gave a description of the July 4 event, which included the statement that “this event will be ticketed,” at first I thought she said “this event will be picketed.” It should say that, because it will.
BushCheney wants to invade Iran.Lets put the blame where it squarely lies… 8-(
Iran will shut down the Straits at the first sign of an attack.
…because the entire Fifth Fleet will be the most expensive artificial reef ever…! 8-(
Aloha Ya’ll! ;-)
Thanks for the tip, Angie. :)
And not too bright – IMO
Noodles at six paces.
al dente!
There’s also the Battle of Salamis
Well, following *that* link didn’t match the initial visual in my head at all. heh.
No “sword-fighting” or anything…
Wonder how long it would take them to mine the Straits.
More likely egos at 50 paces.
Is anyone listening to KO’s special comment?
al dente!
You’re giving them way too much credit…
We’re in no position to invade anything. We MIGHT be able to drop some bombs- but without follow through- it’s hard to see how that accomplishes anything.
If yer goin after the bear- you’d better KILL it- not just piss it off..
I think Clusterfuck is screwed on this issue. He has supposedly had the de nuking of Iran as an A priority and they have made an idiot out of him (well yeah- he already was one.
This will be left to the next prez- who will have the same piss poor options. I don’t think that the Iranians are going to swoon over sweet talk either.
Tryin’ to piss on the other guy’s leg.
For the second time…! ;-)
dw at 60 and libby and others—
some believe/are taught/think idealism is for the young, and make themselves ’grow up’…….guess they didn’t pay attention to the song ’young at heart’ when they were little….or ’high hopes’…….
people lose their sense of beauty and wonder and creativity, trade it in for a neat little box they put their brain inside. it’s called conditioning……
others though, still manage to grow and thrive and come back for more knowing there is more to learn, more to explore and more to conquer intellectually….
i’ll take that group.
p.s. libby, my sister named her new 1 year old terrier/scottie mix pup ’libby’, for liberty…both of your names…….cuz she’s a 4th of july dog!…she has wanted a dog for over two years and finally went to find one today, found her at the shelter, said she is the perfect dog for her and her husband, a real sweetheart……she is over the top happy…..
I’m tired of writing/calling congresscritters, but I did write to Charlottesville Daily Progress. If enough of us did that, there might actually be some impact. Won’t stop our national idiot from speaking, but might help other people know they are not alone in seeing how pathetic der leaderscum is. Thanks, angle, for the link.
Yes, I would have to go with limp like certain other aspects of them.
watertiger upstairs
All in all- the Clusterfuck theory that your enemies need to earn the right to talk to you has not been an overwhelming success.
So what do you think of Dean’s interpretation of the FISA bill?
Prolly, within an hour…! The Phalanx reload rates are the Achille’s heel of our vaunted AA systems…!
Is anyone listening to KO’s special comment?
I heard it earlier – still not exactly sure what KO was gettin’ at exactly…
Vote against (or possibly *for*) FISA, because the repigs are gonna come after you one way or the other – is all I really got.
You think they know how to throw down?
KO is just coming to grips with the fact that Obama is a politician. Give him some space- he’s still in denial.
reminds me of grass’s Cat and Mouse for some reason.
Clusterfuck has created a situation in Iraq where uthe Sunnis have agreed to kill less of our guys if we pay em a lot..that’s the real success of the ”surge”- the surge of MONEY. We can probably continue the status quo for some time as long as we send em money and guns.
Not when they’re looking at the business end of a Colt Model 1911 .45 calibre semi-automatic pistol. Piss their pants more like.
Eh, they’re all a bunch of stuffed stiffs.
The banality of weevil! Widdle weevils, at that!!
Give ‘em flaccid penne rigate at five inches then, and no seconds.
Da bums!
Yep, they can’t just BOMB Iran, without pretext beyond Isrea’s Feah Oh Da Nukes!
Good analysis . . . . and it includes the MEANS to boil the blood of ever red blooded ameriKahn and get BEHIND this war dang it!!!
Given this kind of scenerio, I wonder about the outrage of the dissenters . . . if there is any. And how THAT will be denuded, quashed, or unabled without means of violence . . . . cuz any domestic violence AGAINST the citizenry WOULD likely rail the rabble . . .
I heard it the first time around…what do you think?
He was also talking about Dean’s interpretation of the FISA bill the Senate is considering. Basically that the bill gives immunity for civil suits but not for criminal suits. Other than that Keith seems to be saying vote against FISA because either way the repigs are going to talk shit about his vote. Might as well make the base happy and not run to the center.
McCain choses f 16s at forty miles
Amazing how LARGE the business-end of that piece looks.
Why even a bold man, sober, would blanch!
I think he’s going to vote in favor if he votes at all. And it’s just silly to think if BO was elected that he’d come into office and start investigating and filing charges against the telecoms and members of bushco for spying.
Makes ya close yer eyes, real quick.
…and lawyers?
Bush judges don’t read Dean.
I don’t recall Keith addressing the statute of limitations problem…did he?
Fortunately, there’s 12 different safeties on a .45, numero uno would be pushing the barrel straight back…! ;-)
Bush judges don’t read
Dean.Fixed
Not at all, and I noticed that was raised early on KO’s thread at the orange satan…!
Yep. Who will dig the graves for OUR boys and girls in Iraq?
Halliburton’s conscripted SE Asian slave force?
Riiiiiight.
*gentle reminder*
no fantasy violence
We don’t bury our dead on foreign soil.
Dearie and neurophius– thanks for doing that! Pass it on if you can :)
I registered my complaint and emailed as well.
As an alumna of TJ’s University, former Charlottesville resident, frequent visitor to Monticello (and his grave), and a believer in the Constitution, I am truly horrified.
(y’all remember he died on July 4th (as did Adams and Monroe, btw)– it is so disrespectful in so many ways!!)
rw at 158
now that was funny lol
That gives the anti-war groups and whoever else three days to organize a protest. This has potential, methinks.
I shan’t mention pasta again, Suzanne, I promise.
;~D
Seems as if we buried a few at Normandy.
I think we stopped after WWII. We haven’t had an army of that size in the field since then. Another war like that, yes, we would.
Actually there are a few places at least
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO61uM8gnTs
I think this cemetery is at Coville sur Mer
Here’s hoping, we don’t bury anymore anywhere . . . like rehab, it’s one day at a time.
Thanks for very thoughtful thoughts ladies and gents . . . I gotta move on . . .
nite larue
g’nite larue
Sometimes the war is necessary. Sometimes it is the duty of the president to call on americans to risk their lives for their country. Often it’s just a little brain fart that the prez has.
This Afghanistan thing is getting to be a little hairy.
wow, john: you learned me. thanks.
and thanks to pw for this great post
Dugg!
That was during WWII. I’m not sure about Korea, I’d have to look it up. From Viet Nam to Irak we have shipped our dead home.
Another war involving massive casualties the logistics of shipping the dead back to the US would probably be considered prohibitive.
Yep. ;)
Necessary?
Damn few of those rw.
Which do you think, of America’s, fit that definition?
Bartoo
Well WW2 for one- maybe 1812- there may be another one or two.
Cuban church protests support for gay rights
6/26/08
HAVANA (AP) – Cuba’s Roman Catholic Church on Tuesday protested the communist government’s growing support of gay rights, including a daylong event raising awareness against homophobia and a law allowing sex-change operations.
“Respect for the homosexual person, yes,” said an editorial in Palabra Nueva, the monthly magazine of the Archdiocese of Havana. “Promotion of homosexuality, no.”
The editorial signed by magazine director Orlando Marquez referred to activities held May 17 by Cuba’s Sex Education Center, which is directed by Mariela Castro, daughter of President Raul Castro. The center also announced this month that the health ministry has approved a law authorizing government-paid sex changes for 28 people who have undergone extensive study after requesting the surgery.
Prejudice against homosexuals remains deeply rooted in Cuban society, as in much of Latin America. But the government has steadily moved away from the intolerance of the 1960s and 1970s, when homosexuals hid their sexuality for fear of being fired from work or even imprisoned.
Cuba’s parliament also is studying proposals to give gay couples the same benefits as married couples.
http://ap.google.com/article/A…..wD91GPIGG0
Whether the civil war or the revolutionary war were necessary are interesting questions.
Probably the Revolutionary war was not-look at Canada….the civil war probably brought slavery to an end decades earlier than it would have ended otherwise.
Thoughtful responses, rw.
I think your ‘interesting’ questions are worthy of broader analysis, WWII, is the one stand-out, and again that deserves to be placed in just that sort of context when we state that war is, at ‘best’, a tragedy and what we have now is quite beyond reason, and certainly not ‘necessary’.
dmac… just revisiting the comments again…. and loved your share about the non-little box people. :) AND THE PUPPY SHARE:
I chose “libby”, short for elizabeth, but now love the idea of libby for “liberty”. (I was pleased when Wexler during the salon — who wrote his book with title calling himself a “liberal” — complimented me on proudly asserting the word). The thought of little “libby” pup makes me smile.
thanks, angie… will follow up with phone and email!
Did he say that or you? love it!!
Thank you. I see no point in mocking Seymour Hersh with Nostradamus type stuff. It’s beside the point. As you point out, if Iran is worried, and enough people talking to Hersh are worried, we should be too. Assassinations in my view don’t get a pass. Covert ops don’t get a pass. What right does Cheney have to act as judge and jury of the world? What right does he have to provoke a sovereign nation that can be provoked into the 70 years war (I forget how long the Iran/Iraq war lasted, so forgive the exaggeration.)
Yes, but ECahn, we are dealing with a man who according to Frontline Bush’s War made the decision to invade Iraq based on a stupid time line and ultimatum “My word is my word”, and a little last word with Cheney. All the intelligence in the world couldn’t crack doubt in Chimpy’s head. He has been called “stubborn” in other areas as well, like free trade agreements that are completely inappropriate. So making predictions as Ian Welsh said is a little hard. Hersh does best if he keeps writing as many articles as possible. I say to Hersh, heap on with a vengeance.
Oh hey, at least this makes the Iranians seem somehow more decent the Chimpy, who recklessly sends sons, daughters etc. of other people to be blasted into oblivion, and doesn’t have the decency to visit their graves.
Speaking of which, I wonder why noone has asked the chimpy why N. Korea is “less dangerous” than Iran, that is if we are talking so called axis of evil twins and not the other countries that have nucular capacity.
Oh hey, at least this makes the Iranians seem somehow more decent the Chimpy, who recklessly sends sons, daughters etc. of other people to be blasted into oblivion, and doesn’t have the decency to visit their graves.
Speaking of which, I wonder why noone has asked the chimpy why N. Korea is “less dangerous” than Iran, that is if we are talking so called axis of evil twins and not the other countries that have nucular capacity.