Your taxpayer dollars at work -- killing innocent Lebanese babies, women, children, old men and many hundreds of others who don't have anything to do with this conflict.
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Friday, July 21, 2006
this is truly sick
Your taxpayer dollars at work -- killing innocent Lebanese babies, women, children, old men and many hundreds of others who don't have anything to do with this conflict.
They just want war, war, war, ...
and they want us in more war. They wanted us in Iraq. Now they want us in Iran. Now they want us to get into the Middle East.
The subject line of this email is a paraphrase of Juan Williams speaking with Bill Kristol on Faux News Sunday.
"You just want war, war, war, and you want us in more war. You wanted us in Iraq. Now you want us in Iran. Now you want us to get into the Middle East. … You’re saying, why doesn’t the United States take this hard, unforgiving line? Well, the hard and unforgiving line has been, we don’t talk to anybody. We don’t talk to Hamas. We don’t talk to Hezbollah. We’re not going to talk to Iran. Where has it gotten us, Bill? Kristol threw up his hands and didn’t answer."
Mr. Wlliams here's a news flash - we're already there. As I write these words American tax dollars subsidize the killing of innocent Lebanese civilians and GWB is giving the Israeli government more time to kill more. The truth is ever since 1967 we've given the Israeli government carte blanche to kill as many innocents as they want. Who is the grownup in this equation? The Israeli government just stoops to the level of the terrorists with this behavior. Except their/our weapons are more lethal. For every dead Israeli there are at least 10 or more dead Arabs.
The line is that the Syrians and Iranians are supplying Hezbollah with arms. No doubt they are - they have to get them from somewhere - I don't think there are too many rocket factories in South Lebanon. Arms are freely available on the black market all over the world. Who is the worlds primary arms dealer? The USA! We Americans can't make a decent car anymore but we sure can build bombs and missiles. The USA is followed distantly by Britain, France, Russia and China - all of whom happen to be the permanent members of the UN "Security" Council.
Who do we think makes the bombs and missiles killing Lebanese children right now? Lockheed, Raytheon and Northrup Grumman: all US companies that contribute mightily to both the Republicans AND the Democrats.
Does Israel have the right to defend it self? Of course, but there is defending and there is naked aggression. Its clear what we have at the moment is the latter. Of course if Israel would end its illegal occupation of the West Bank and (recoccupation) of Gaza most of the reasons for radical Islam to attack them and America would evaporate... simple. To paraphrase another liberal "It's the occupation stupid."
Another news flash: both Hamas and Hebollah were supported by the Israelis in the early years of their existence because they were a counter weight to the PLO. It's true - look it up. Just as the USA supported Osama Bin Laden against the Russians in Afghanistan. This is just a cynical war that the powers that be play with innocents just as they have from the beggining of time. It's no different. The little people always pay the price for the ruling classes megalomania. Throw the religious fundamentalists (Christian, Islamic & Jewish) into the mix and you get what we have today.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Secy. of State Rice expresses concern over Chinese military build up
Item: The United States is concerned about China's military build-up and Beijing should make its intentions clear, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice said.
Very interesting - Condi says the US govt. is concerned that China; a nation with a population of 1.3 billion people is increasing its military spending by double digits each year to - horrors - $35 billion dollars! Oh my God! Let's see that's $35 billion divided by 1.3 billion or $26.92 a year per capita. That's twenty-six dollars and ninety-two cents (Source - CIA World Fact Book)
This from the highest diplomatic representative of a country with around 300 million people with a FY 2007 defense budget of $439.3 billion or $1,464.33 per capita. $173 million of that is for NEW nuclear weapons - bridge funding of $50 billion for 2 wars etc. The White House is actually bragging that the war budget has gone up by 48% since 2001 (Source White House OMB)
If we followed the Chinese formula of - let's call it $27 dollars per capita we'd have a military budget of $8.1 billion. WOW! We'd save $430 billion dollars (just think of what we could do with that) - but then we couldn't have invaded Iraq or Afghanistan (oh nooo) we would only be able to protect our own territory. Interesting thought that - then maybe we wouldn't be seen as such a threat to millions of people around the world? Then maybe we wouldn't be such a target and 9/11 might not have happened? Nah - impossible. Just the deranged ramblings of some old hippie liberal dude.
So anyway - who's worried about who? When's the last time the Chinese invaded a country under a false pretext? Yes, we suppose they could invade Taiwan. It is a possibility, one we've planned for over many years. And as my Dad says - "we'll blow that bridge up when we get to it." But the fact of the matter is it's not the Chinese who rampage all over the world abducting innocent civilians and putting them away for years without trial, torturing them in secret prisons, invading countries, threatening military action against Iran. Ok, OK, they do torture innocent civilians – whose copying who? Are they just like us or are we just like them?
But we're "concerned" about the Chinese? What does that mean Condi? Concerned enough to do what? Talk? "Concerned" has got to mean something. The Secretary of State doesn't just speak without meaning something. Doesn't have to be the truth - just look at Colin Powell at the UN before the Iraq War. Does it mean we're going to face them down? Put in sanctions? Forget that; too many rich Americans make too much money exporting jobs to China. What does it mean? We've already invaded two counties, we're thinking about a third - how about paint ball?
I'm not saying that the Chinese aren't something to be concerned about but this remark of hers just made my blood boil especially when she brought up the size of their military budget. Criminy! $35 billion? Chicken feed. We spend that in one month in Iraq. Wake up America! Don't they think we are listening? This administration are not even real Republicans. They are just incompetent robber barons. And with all due respect to my family in Wyoming, among whom are some real Republicans, 'ol "Buckshot" Cheney is the worst of the bunch.
Message to the Democrats - PLEASE DONT IMPEACH GEORGE BUSH - IF WE DO WE'LL END UP WITH CHENEY!! And if we impeach Cheney we'll get Denny Hastert... fuggedaboudit. It's really not worth it. Actually we should impeach the whole lot and then not convict. Maybe that will teach them a lesson but I doubt it. Here's an interesting scenario - Bush is impeached and Cheney takes over. Who does he appoint as his VP? Bill Frist? Think about it. Then the appointed Veep runs for President in '08 as a semi-incumbent. Hmmm... or would Cheney run? Aaah - get me out of this nightmare!
One more thing and I'll shut up.
I know I'm not the only one who's noticed GWB hasn't vetoed a single piece of legislation in 5+ years. And the only vetoes he's even threatened were: a) against McCain's bill to prohibit torture which he eventually was shamed into signing but with a little "signing statement" on the side saying in effect he could ignore the law if he wanted to. Just like FISA - which he's not just ignoring but breaking the law and thumbing his nose at the American people, Congress and the Judiciary and all the while just daring someone to do something about it. As Gloria Steinem said the other day "he invaded the wrong country - what makes you think he's spying on the right people?" Woo hoo - good one G! And b) the other threatened veto was against the bill Congress was planning to introduce banning the Dubai Ports World deal. Not that I was against that. Tells a story doesn't it? Or does it, I dunno ask Bill O’Reilly. He’ll tell you a story or two.
Bush won't veto all the profligate deficit spending he shoves down our throats. He won't veto massive cuts to the most unfortunate in our society - oh yeah - those are his cuts why veto your own proposals?? But he would veto to protect his right to be like the Chinese and torture innocent civilians and for a bunch more of the super rich to make even more money? Something wrong with this picture?
Sheesh - it's enough to make you want to turn on "Desperate Housewives" scarf down another beer and a burger and forget the whole mess. Unfortunately too many of us Americans do just that and trust this gang who can't shoot straight (literally... duck, here comes Buckshot Cheney!) with our precious democracy. 49% of the eligible voters in this country didn't even bother to vote in 2004. It's so sad that after all millions of people around the world risk their lives to vote (yes the Iraqis & Afghanis too and couldn't have unless we invaded) and we won't get off our fat asses and spend 20 minutes at our local polling place.
I propose that next time there is an election we do the real American thing: watch TV! No, I mean make sure we are registered - make sure all our friends and family are registered and then when election day rolls around drag the SOBs down to the polling place with us. If we could reduce the non-voters by half at least we'd have a large majority of eligible voters voting on the questions of the day and we Americans could look each other in the eye and say we had a real election. Not one where the winner was appointed/anointed or where the winner was elected by a minority of eligible voters. A real election for a real democracy; not some Faux News version of an ersatz democracy. Then would I shut up? Probably not - there is always some injustice, some outrage, it's the nature of the world. Doesn't mean we have to take it lying down. I mean come on... $26.92 and she's worried???
Very interesting - Condi says the US govt. is concerned that China; a nation with a population of 1.3 billion people is increasing its military spending by double digits each year to - horrors - $35 billion dollars! Oh my God! Let's see that's $35 billion divided by 1.3 billion or $26.92 a year per capita. That's twenty-six dollars and ninety-two cents (Source - CIA World Fact Book)
This from the highest diplomatic representative of a country with around 300 million people with a FY 2007 defense budget of $439.3 billion or $1,464.33 per capita. $173 million of that is for NEW nuclear weapons - bridge funding of $50 billion for 2 wars etc. The White House is actually bragging that the war budget has gone up by 48% since 2001 (Source White House OMB)
If we followed the Chinese formula of - let's call it $27 dollars per capita we'd have a military budget of $8.1 billion. WOW! We'd save $430 billion dollars (just think of what we could do with that) - but then we couldn't have invaded Iraq or Afghanistan (oh nooo) we would only be able to protect our own territory. Interesting thought that - then maybe we wouldn't be seen as such a threat to millions of people around the world? Then maybe we wouldn't be such a target and 9/11 might not have happened? Nah - impossible. Just the deranged ramblings of some old hippie liberal dude.
So anyway - who's worried about who? When's the last time the Chinese invaded a country under a false pretext? Yes, we suppose they could invade Taiwan. It is a possibility, one we've planned for over many years. And as my Dad says - "we'll blow that bridge up when we get to it." But the fact of the matter is it's not the Chinese who rampage all over the world abducting innocent civilians and putting them away for years without trial, torturing them in secret prisons, invading countries, threatening military action against Iran. Ok, OK, they do torture innocent civilians – whose copying who? Are they just like us or are we just like them?
But we're "concerned" about the Chinese? What does that mean Condi? Concerned enough to do what? Talk? "Concerned" has got to mean something. The Secretary of State doesn't just speak without meaning something. Doesn't have to be the truth - just look at Colin Powell at the UN before the Iraq War. Does it mean we're going to face them down? Put in sanctions? Forget that; too many rich Americans make too much money exporting jobs to China. What does it mean? We've already invaded two counties, we're thinking about a third - how about paint ball?
I'm not saying that the Chinese aren't something to be concerned about but this remark of hers just made my blood boil especially when she brought up the size of their military budget. Criminy! $35 billion? Chicken feed. We spend that in one month in Iraq. Wake up America! Don't they think we are listening? This administration are not even real Republicans. They are just incompetent robber barons. And with all due respect to my family in Wyoming, among whom are some real Republicans, 'ol "Buckshot" Cheney is the worst of the bunch.
Message to the Democrats - PLEASE DONT IMPEACH GEORGE BUSH - IF WE DO WE'LL END UP WITH CHENEY!! And if we impeach Cheney we'll get Denny Hastert... fuggedaboudit. It's really not worth it. Actually we should impeach the whole lot and then not convict. Maybe that will teach them a lesson but I doubt it. Here's an interesting scenario - Bush is impeached and Cheney takes over. Who does he appoint as his VP? Bill Frist? Think about it. Then the appointed Veep runs for President in '08 as a semi-incumbent. Hmmm... or would Cheney run? Aaah - get me out of this nightmare!
One more thing and I'll shut up.
I know I'm not the only one who's noticed GWB hasn't vetoed a single piece of legislation in 5+ years. And the only vetoes he's even threatened were: a) against McCain's bill to prohibit torture which he eventually was shamed into signing but with a little "signing statement" on the side saying in effect he could ignore the law if he wanted to. Just like FISA - which he's not just ignoring but breaking the law and thumbing his nose at the American people, Congress and the Judiciary and all the while just daring someone to do something about it. As Gloria Steinem said the other day "he invaded the wrong country - what makes you think he's spying on the right people?" Woo hoo - good one G! And b) the other threatened veto was against the bill Congress was planning to introduce banning the Dubai Ports World deal. Not that I was against that. Tells a story doesn't it? Or does it, I dunno ask Bill O’Reilly. He’ll tell you a story or two.
Bush won't veto all the profligate deficit spending he shoves down our throats. He won't veto massive cuts to the most unfortunate in our society - oh yeah - those are his cuts why veto your own proposals?? But he would veto to protect his right to be like the Chinese and torture innocent civilians and for a bunch more of the super rich to make even more money? Something wrong with this picture?
Sheesh - it's enough to make you want to turn on "Desperate Housewives" scarf down another beer and a burger and forget the whole mess. Unfortunately too many of us Americans do just that and trust this gang who can't shoot straight (literally... duck, here comes Buckshot Cheney!) with our precious democracy. 49% of the eligible voters in this country didn't even bother to vote in 2004. It's so sad that after all millions of people around the world risk their lives to vote (yes the Iraqis & Afghanis too and couldn't have unless we invaded) and we won't get off our fat asses and spend 20 minutes at our local polling place.
I propose that next time there is an election we do the real American thing: watch TV! No, I mean make sure we are registered - make sure all our friends and family are registered and then when election day rolls around drag the SOBs down to the polling place with us. If we could reduce the non-voters by half at least we'd have a large majority of eligible voters voting on the questions of the day and we Americans could look each other in the eye and say we had a real election. Not one where the winner was appointed/anointed or where the winner was elected by a minority of eligible voters. A real election for a real democracy; not some Faux News version of an ersatz democracy. Then would I shut up? Probably not - there is always some injustice, some outrage, it's the nature of the world. Doesn't mean we have to take it lying down. I mean come on... $26.92 and she's worried???
Further to "The Israeli Lobby"
This is a follow up post that addresses various issues raised by a commentator on the blog I posted my original piece on. I was advised to research my subject more thoroughly.
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To Juanita - research is all I've been doing for 30 years and my head sometimes feels like exploding with facts. But I'm willing to be proven wrong.
I purposely mentioned the Israeli-Arabs in my previous comments. You missed that.
Why is Israel described as a “Jewish State” if that does not mean it is of the Jews, for the Jews and by the Jews? It is akin to the US officially describing itself, as a “Christian State.”
In another twist to this Twilight Zone of a country… “It would not occur to the average English peaking observer to object to translating [the Hebrew word] ezrahut as "nationality" because "citizenship" and "nationality" are interchangeable terms in the United States, as well as in most democratic societies. In Israel, however, they are two separate and very different statuses. Citizenship (ezrahut) may be held by Arabs as well as Jews while nationality (le'um), which bestows significantly greater rights than citizenship, may be claimed by Jews alone.”
“No [one version of] Israeli nationality applies to all citizens, as does a US nationality in the United States or French nationality in France, for example. In Israel, there is only a Jewish nationality. That non-Jews cannot qualify for nationality rights in the state of Israel was affirmed by the Supreme Court in 1972 in a statement that there is no Israeli nation separate from the Jewish people.”
From: http://www.wrmea.com/backissues/0190/9001020.htm
These are Israeli values - not American values. The American taxpayer subsidizes these un-American values (to the tune of $105 billion since 1948) and the Israel lobby is dedicated to making sure that Joe Six Pack US taxpayer doesn’t figure it out.
The Law of Return applies only to Jews, no other faith. If there is any other way to become an Israeli besides being Jewish and moving to Israel or being an indigenous person (and their descendents) caught up in the founding of the state that happened to stay in ’48 please let me know. Show me chapter and verse the language in Israeli law that unambiguously allows a Christian or a Hindu or any other faith to move to Israel and lawfully become a citizen without converting to Judaism or marrying a Jew and I will concede the point.
Regarding Israeli-Arab members of parliament; that cannot be forbidden because these MP’s were/are Israeli citizens. Israeli as described above but Israeli. That’s the surrealistic mélange of Israel.
As far as Mr. Hodges remark that England’s state religion is Anglicanism and Denmark’s Lutheran he is exactly correct but you don’t have to be a member of that religion to be a citizen of those countries. The two situations are not analogous except on the surface. They would be analogous to medieval Europe yes, but not the Europe of today. Why be medieval?
Regarding citizenship in Palestine the following clauses from the draft Constitution of Palestine. Illustrate my point. “Article (5) Arabic is the official language and Islam is the official religion in Palestine. Christianity and all other monotheistic religions are accorded sanctity and respect. The constitution guarantees equality in rights and duties to all citizens irrespective of their religious creed.” and “Article (19) All Palestinians are equal before the law. They enjoy civil and political rights and bear public duties without difference or discrimination, regardless of race, gender, color, religion, political opinion, or disability.”
Even though the draft says that Islam is the official religion it goes out of its way to state “equality in rights” are guaranteed to all irrespective of creed. This is far from the two-class system in Israel. As stated earlier Denmark, England, France, Norway and many other countries have a “state” religion. Granted Israel is no Saudi Arabia in denying religious freedom but nevertheless discriminates against the non-Jewish. As stated above this is not an American value.
Case closed?
-------------
To Juanita - research is all I've been doing for 30 years and my head sometimes feels like exploding with facts. But I'm willing to be proven wrong.
I purposely mentioned the Israeli-Arabs in my previous comments. You missed that.
Why is Israel described as a “Jewish State” if that does not mean it is of the Jews, for the Jews and by the Jews? It is akin to the US officially describing itself, as a “Christian State.”
In another twist to this Twilight Zone of a country… “It would not occur to the average English peaking observer to object to translating [the Hebrew word] ezrahut as "nationality" because "citizenship" and "nationality" are interchangeable terms in the United States, as well as in most democratic societies. In Israel, however, they are two separate and very different statuses. Citizenship (ezrahut) may be held by Arabs as well as Jews while nationality (le'um), which bestows significantly greater rights than citizenship, may be claimed by Jews alone.”
“No [one version of] Israeli nationality applies to all citizens, as does a US nationality in the United States or French nationality in France, for example. In Israel, there is only a Jewish nationality. That non-Jews cannot qualify for nationality rights in the state of Israel was affirmed by the Supreme Court in 1972 in a statement that there is no Israeli nation separate from the Jewish people.”
From: http://www.wrmea.com/backissues/0190/9001020.htm
These are Israeli values - not American values. The American taxpayer subsidizes these un-American values (to the tune of $105 billion since 1948) and the Israel lobby is dedicated to making sure that Joe Six Pack US taxpayer doesn’t figure it out.
The Law of Return applies only to Jews, no other faith. If there is any other way to become an Israeli besides being Jewish and moving to Israel or being an indigenous person (and their descendents) caught up in the founding of the state that happened to stay in ’48 please let me know. Show me chapter and verse the language in Israeli law that unambiguously allows a Christian or a Hindu or any other faith to move to Israel and lawfully become a citizen without converting to Judaism or marrying a Jew and I will concede the point.
Regarding Israeli-Arab members of parliament; that cannot be forbidden because these MP’s were/are Israeli citizens. Israeli as described above but Israeli. That’s the surrealistic mélange of Israel.
As far as Mr. Hodges remark that England’s state religion is Anglicanism and Denmark’s Lutheran he is exactly correct but you don’t have to be a member of that religion to be a citizen of those countries. The two situations are not analogous except on the surface. They would be analogous to medieval Europe yes, but not the Europe of today. Why be medieval?
Regarding citizenship in Palestine the following clauses from the draft Constitution of Palestine. Illustrate my point. “Article (5) Arabic is the official language and Islam is the official religion in Palestine. Christianity and all other monotheistic religions are accorded sanctity and respect. The constitution guarantees equality in rights and duties to all citizens irrespective of their religious creed.” and “Article (19) All Palestinians are equal before the law. They enjoy civil and political rights and bear public duties without difference or discrimination, regardless of race, gender, color, religion, political opinion, or disability.”
Even though the draft says that Islam is the official religion it goes out of its way to state “equality in rights” are guaranteed to all irrespective of creed. This is far from the two-class system in Israel. As stated earlier Denmark, England, France, Norway and many other countries have a “state” religion. Granted Israel is no Saudi Arabia in denying religious freedom but nevertheless discriminates against the non-Jewish. As stated above this is not an American value.
Case closed?
The Israeli Lobby - AIPAC
This is a piece I wrote regarding a paper written by well known two academics regarding the Israeli Lobby. They are John J. Mearsheimer; Department of Political Science, University of Chicago & Stephen M. Walt; John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Not exactly a couple of unknowns. There has been a fair amount of controversy over the paper they wrote. Predictably, in my opinion, the very phenomenon that the paper describes is happening to the authors. This is a piece I put up as comments on a couple of blogs and I adapt for use here.
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Its high time Americans began a dialogue over the long nightmare of human rights violations and abuse committed in our name. It doesn’t take a genius to discern that unqualified US support of Israel is undoubtedly one of the leading causes of anti-American sentiment around the world and one of the main reasons why America is targeted by the Islamic Jihadists. 9/11, to paraphrase Malcom X, was “the proverbial chickens coming home to roost.” Notwithstanding the hundreds of billions of dollars in no-strings attached aid to the Israelis this is the “net” loss in the relationship that Mearsheimer & Walt so eloquently describe. One must be a fool, willfully ignorant, completely uneducated or just hopelessly biased about this issue not to at least question the premise and accept a free exchange of ideas on the subject. What’s wrong with that? Discussion is the key. We are sentient beings with the gift of communication. Surely to stifle discussion is counter to reasons for our existence.
The publication of the paper by the two very well respected academics John J. Mearsheimer & Stephen M. Walt resulted in a predictable backlash by the pro-Israeli lobby in the American and world press. Sure as the sunrise, charges of anti-Semitism are leveled when anyone deigns to criticize the Israeli government. American Jews, while usually quite progressive, are for the most part committed to social justice except when it comes to the repression perpetrated by the Israeli government on the Palestinian people. Although I know progressive Jews who don't agree with the Zionist line, those that espouse the Zionist case - purposefully or not - are definitly in the majority. Apologists for the Israeli lobby such as Max Boot, Alan Dershowitz, Jonah Goldberg and the lobby itself smugly refute facts in the paper by pointing to organizations like CAMERA who attempt to debunk the paper; as if CAMERA had no axe to grind and is an objective source of information.
My tax accountant is Jewish – and a wonderful and a committed progressive - but when it comes to the Palestinians he understands they are oppressed, but as he stated to my face while in discussion over the subject, “I don’t care.” His position is; that after what the Nazis did to the Jews anything is justified, including oppressing an entire people. So be it. "So it is written and so it shall be done."
Next time you are checked and groped before boarding a commercial airliner think about the line of causality that extends from being a target of terrorism to the repression of a people. No - I mean really think about it. Don't just dismiss it as "propaganda." Violence is not justified in any form (except in extreme self defense) but one can understand a people, systematically repressed over half a century and without hope, resorting to violence against their oppressors and those who support the oppressor. It’s human nature. The policies of the Israeli government and the USA’s support of them are *the* root cause of the suffering of the Palestinian people. To paraphrase again “It’s the occupation stupid!” The facts of the matter are not really in dispute. Any position to the contrary is just blaming the victim just as it would be blaming a woman for being raped, the slave for being enslaved or the death camp survivor for being incarcerated. The US has almost without exception supported Israeli-Zionist interests ever since we recognized the government of Israel in 1948. The list of atrocities and complete disrespect for human rights by the Israeli government is far too long to write about here.
We say we support Israel because it shares our values? Obviously we share some values but wake up America! Israel is not a democracy any more than the USA would be if we expelled all non-Christians and declared that (except for a tiny minority who refused to leave) no one could be a citizen with full rights unless they were Christian. Unbalanced support for this quasi-theocracy is leading us down a path where we will forever spend our national treasure and blood defending that which is indefensible and justifying behavior which is unjustifiable. Please look at the history and the facts. The myth of the noble kibbutzim greening an empty desert and bringing truth, justice and freedom to a bunch of backward Arabs is just that – a myth. The Israeli government and its predessessors; among whom were terrorist organizations like the Stern Gang and the Irgun, has systematically engaged in ethnic cleansing even before 1948 and the gullible American taxpayer has unthinkingly supported the policy with blood and treasure.
Witness the lopsided UN Security Council votes and the wholesale gifting of arms. I could go on and on but this is not the forum. There are plenty of sources for this information. If you think my views extreme look to the debate raging in Israeli society now. The Israelis are more open on this subject than we Americans. Few dispute the Arabs are also guilty of human rights abuses and atrocities (principally against their own) as are the Israelis but the American government has not been an honest broker. The closest we got was under Bill Clinton but the petty impeachment and the end of his term came about before he was able to finish what he'd started.
This conflict, waged by two sides who base their beliefs and philosophy largely on “an eye for an eye” will not end until this cycle of violence is broken by pushing the parties to “turn the other cheek” or we will forever doomed to war, oppression and it’s consequences. Idealistic? Yes – but we have to start somewhere and an honest dialogue about and acknowledgment of America's addiction to its unbalanced support for Israel is the first step to recovery… and peace.
--------------
Its high time Americans began a dialogue over the long nightmare of human rights violations and abuse committed in our name. It doesn’t take a genius to discern that unqualified US support of Israel is undoubtedly one of the leading causes of anti-American sentiment around the world and one of the main reasons why America is targeted by the Islamic Jihadists. 9/11, to paraphrase Malcom X, was “the proverbial chickens coming home to roost.” Notwithstanding the hundreds of billions of dollars in no-strings attached aid to the Israelis this is the “net” loss in the relationship that Mearsheimer & Walt so eloquently describe. One must be a fool, willfully ignorant, completely uneducated or just hopelessly biased about this issue not to at least question the premise and accept a free exchange of ideas on the subject. What’s wrong with that? Discussion is the key. We are sentient beings with the gift of communication. Surely to stifle discussion is counter to reasons for our existence.
The publication of the paper by the two very well respected academics John J. Mearsheimer & Stephen M. Walt resulted in a predictable backlash by the pro-Israeli lobby in the American and world press. Sure as the sunrise, charges of anti-Semitism are leveled when anyone deigns to criticize the Israeli government. American Jews, while usually quite progressive, are for the most part committed to social justice except when it comes to the repression perpetrated by the Israeli government on the Palestinian people. Although I know progressive Jews who don't agree with the Zionist line, those that espouse the Zionist case - purposefully or not - are definitly in the majority. Apologists for the Israeli lobby such as Max Boot, Alan Dershowitz, Jonah Goldberg and the lobby itself smugly refute facts in the paper by pointing to organizations like CAMERA who attempt to debunk the paper; as if CAMERA had no axe to grind and is an objective source of information.
My tax accountant is Jewish – and a wonderful and a committed progressive - but when it comes to the Palestinians he understands they are oppressed, but as he stated to my face while in discussion over the subject, “I don’t care.” His position is; that after what the Nazis did to the Jews anything is justified, including oppressing an entire people. So be it. "So it is written and so it shall be done."
Next time you are checked and groped before boarding a commercial airliner think about the line of causality that extends from being a target of terrorism to the repression of a people. No - I mean really think about it. Don't just dismiss it as "propaganda." Violence is not justified in any form (except in extreme self defense) but one can understand a people, systematically repressed over half a century and without hope, resorting to violence against their oppressors and those who support the oppressor. It’s human nature. The policies of the Israeli government and the USA’s support of them are *the* root cause of the suffering of the Palestinian people. To paraphrase again “It’s the occupation stupid!” The facts of the matter are not really in dispute. Any position to the contrary is just blaming the victim just as it would be blaming a woman for being raped, the slave for being enslaved or the death camp survivor for being incarcerated. The US has almost without exception supported Israeli-Zionist interests ever since we recognized the government of Israel in 1948. The list of atrocities and complete disrespect for human rights by the Israeli government is far too long to write about here.
We say we support Israel because it shares our values? Obviously we share some values but wake up America! Israel is not a democracy any more than the USA would be if we expelled all non-Christians and declared that (except for a tiny minority who refused to leave) no one could be a citizen with full rights unless they were Christian. Unbalanced support for this quasi-theocracy is leading us down a path where we will forever spend our national treasure and blood defending that which is indefensible and justifying behavior which is unjustifiable. Please look at the history and the facts. The myth of the noble kibbutzim greening an empty desert and bringing truth, justice and freedom to a bunch of backward Arabs is just that – a myth. The Israeli government and its predessessors; among whom were terrorist organizations like the Stern Gang and the Irgun, has systematically engaged in ethnic cleansing even before 1948 and the gullible American taxpayer has unthinkingly supported the policy with blood and treasure.
Witness the lopsided UN Security Council votes and the wholesale gifting of arms. I could go on and on but this is not the forum. There are plenty of sources for this information. If you think my views extreme look to the debate raging in Israeli society now. The Israelis are more open on this subject than we Americans. Few dispute the Arabs are also guilty of human rights abuses and atrocities (principally against their own) as are the Israelis but the American government has not been an honest broker. The closest we got was under Bill Clinton but the petty impeachment and the end of his term came about before he was able to finish what he'd started.
This conflict, waged by two sides who base their beliefs and philosophy largely on “an eye for an eye” will not end until this cycle of violence is broken by pushing the parties to “turn the other cheek” or we will forever doomed to war, oppression and it’s consequences. Idealistic? Yes – but we have to start somewhere and an honest dialogue about and acknowledgment of America's addiction to its unbalanced support for Israel is the first step to recovery… and peace.
Monday, June 07, 2004
Ronald Reagan
At the risk of seeming disrespectful during this time of official mourning; is there anyone out there who is as disturbed at the hagiography of St. Ronald as I? This reminds me of the rehab of Nixon when he died. Never mind that tricky Dick (along with his sidekick Henry Kissinger) killed millions of Southeast Asians; let’s remember him as a “statesman.”
I believe the Reagan damaged this country almost beyond repair and we live with the sins of his presidency every day.
Do you remember large amounts of homeless people on the streets of America before this man became president?
Did Saddam Hussein have biological weapons before this man became president?
Why did Saddam receive a visit from Reagan's envoy Rumsfeld saying we’d look the other way after he murdered women and children with the weapons we sold to him if he would just slaughter a few hundred thousand more Iranians with those very same weapons?
Did Osama Bin Laden exist as a credible political force before this man became president?
Did the right wing fundamentalist extremists that run the Federal government have a snowball's chance in hell at political office before this man became president?
This man tripled the national debt, increasing the defense budget beyond all reason, while passing tax cuts for the rich at the expense of the American middle and working class and made us love it.
Did he really end the cold war or merely bring us to the brink of a holocaust with his talk of a "winnable" nuclear war before more intelligent, educated and rational heads on the other side blinked?
Did St. Ronald do it all??? Doesn't Gorbachev deserve any credit?
Personally, I saw the end of the cold war as two old men hanging on to the edge of a cliff by their fingernails. The Soviet’s nails weren't as strong or as long and they fell first; leaving us hanging on looking down and laughing because we won! Well, millions of Americans are still hangin’. With tens of thousands homeless and the political heirs to the "Reagan Revolution" engaged in dismantling what's left (pun intended) of the middle class with elitist shock and awe tactics, while disparaging any attempt at leveling the playing field even just a bit by repealing the huge giveaways to the rich and the corporations as class war! Talk about the triumph of image over substance.
I’m sorry he died the way he did. I don’t wish that fate on anyone. I’ve two uncle’s and an aunt by marriage, along with many friends, that suffer/ed from Alzheimer’s. I also had a cousin that died of aids and perhaps if RR had listened to literally hundreds of health professionals instead of the likes of Jerry Falwell who called aids God’s wrath on homosexuals and moved to fund aids research he may be alive today, maybe not. All I know is that RR was no saint and the relentless propaganda that fills the airwaves of this country would not be quite so pervasive if his administration hadn’t repealed the Fairness Doctrine. This nonstop hagiography is McHistory in the worst possible sense. NBC, CBS, CNN et. al. seem as if they are falling all over themselves to beat Fox News to the punch. The truth is out there; it just takes a little digging. “1984” and “Brave New World” are upon us.
Click on the link above, read the article and REMEMBER what this man did to our country and the world.
That’s my rant and I’m sticking to it...
Best regards,
Franco
I believe the Reagan damaged this country almost beyond repair and we live with the sins of his presidency every day.
Do you remember large amounts of homeless people on the streets of America before this man became president?
Did Saddam Hussein have biological weapons before this man became president?
Why did Saddam receive a visit from Reagan's envoy Rumsfeld saying we’d look the other way after he murdered women and children with the weapons we sold to him if he would just slaughter a few hundred thousand more Iranians with those very same weapons?
Did Osama Bin Laden exist as a credible political force before this man became president?
Did the right wing fundamentalist extremists that run the Federal government have a snowball's chance in hell at political office before this man became president?
This man tripled the national debt, increasing the defense budget beyond all reason, while passing tax cuts for the rich at the expense of the American middle and working class and made us love it.
Did he really end the cold war or merely bring us to the brink of a holocaust with his talk of a "winnable" nuclear war before more intelligent, educated and rational heads on the other side blinked?
Did St. Ronald do it all??? Doesn't Gorbachev deserve any credit?
Personally, I saw the end of the cold war as two old men hanging on to the edge of a cliff by their fingernails. The Soviet’s nails weren't as strong or as long and they fell first; leaving us hanging on looking down and laughing because we won! Well, millions of Americans are still hangin’. With tens of thousands homeless and the political heirs to the "Reagan Revolution" engaged in dismantling what's left (pun intended) of the middle class with elitist shock and awe tactics, while disparaging any attempt at leveling the playing field even just a bit by repealing the huge giveaways to the rich and the corporations as class war! Talk about the triumph of image over substance.
I’m sorry he died the way he did. I don’t wish that fate on anyone. I’ve two uncle’s and an aunt by marriage, along with many friends, that suffer/ed from Alzheimer’s. I also had a cousin that died of aids and perhaps if RR had listened to literally hundreds of health professionals instead of the likes of Jerry Falwell who called aids God’s wrath on homosexuals and moved to fund aids research he may be alive today, maybe not. All I know is that RR was no saint and the relentless propaganda that fills the airwaves of this country would not be quite so pervasive if his administration hadn’t repealed the Fairness Doctrine. This nonstop hagiography is McHistory in the worst possible sense. NBC, CBS, CNN et. al. seem as if they are falling all over themselves to beat Fox News to the punch. The truth is out there; it just takes a little digging. “1984” and “Brave New World” are upon us.
Click on the link above, read the article and REMEMBER what this man did to our country and the world.
That’s my rant and I’m sticking to it...
Best regards,
Franco
Thursday, May 13, 2004
Reaction to Prisoner Abuse
An email to a friend sent on 5/1/04; after the photos of the Iraqi prisoners were released
-------------------------
Dear A,
The horror...
The ... horror
"In this war, things get confused out there, power, ideals, the old morality, and practical military necessity." Because there's a conflict in every human heart between the rational and the irrational, between good and evil. And good does not always triumph. Sometimes the Dark Side overcomes ... 'the better angels of our nature.' Therein, man has got a breaking point. You and I have. Walter Kurtz has reached his. And very obviously, he has gone insane.
"Apocalypse Now"
------------------
eerie isn't it?
-------------------------
Dear A,
The horror...
The ... horror
"In this war, things get confused out there, power, ideals, the old morality, and practical military necessity." Because there's a conflict in every human heart between the rational and the irrational, between good and evil. And good does not always triumph. Sometimes the Dark Side overcomes ... 'the better angels of our nature.' Therein, man has got a breaking point. You and I have. Walter Kurtz has reached his. And very obviously, he has gone insane.
"Apocalypse Now"
------------------
eerie isn't it?
Racial Profiling
From a recent email to a friend sent 5/1/04 ...
Dear A,
I have an Arab-American friend who was recently in Prague. While there he set up his camera on a tripod in his hotel room to take some scenic photos out the window. He'd left it set up while out and the maid saw it. She reported it to the police or someone in Prague and they tracked my friend back to his home city here in the USA. Lo and behold this past Monday the local PD Joint Terrorism Task Force paid him a visit and asked him why he'd been taking photos of the American Embassy??!!
It turns out the embassy was in the camera's field of view. They came with a file on him with pictures of his father, a well known local business man. The family is originally from an Arab country having come to the states in the early seventies and are now naturalized American citizens.
They asked him if he contributes to any charities. He said he did, The United Way, The City of Hope and other mainstream charities. Then they asked him about Islamic charities and received a negative reply. It's shaken him up quite a bit as you can imagine but at the same time he's very calm about it as he has absolutely no cause for concern.
I've known this fellow for 30 years. This is what's known as profiling. A well dressed Arab-American staying in a luxury hotel innocently taking photos out his window ends up on a watch list. I hope it stops with this. I hope there isn't any more to it. The government can make someone's life a living hell regardless of guilt or innocence. If it were you or I would we be subject to the same questioning? Would anyone have bothered to report a middle aged European-American taking photos out the window?
To their credit, according to my friend, the police were somewhat sheepish and very polite. He invited them in, congratulated them on their vigilance and thanked them for their efforts in keeping us safe. Talk about grace under pressure.
What a trip!
--------------
Dear A,
I have an Arab-American friend who was recently in Prague. While there he set up his camera on a tripod in his hotel room to take some scenic photos out the window. He'd left it set up while out and the maid saw it. She reported it to the police or someone in Prague and they tracked my friend back to his home city here in the USA. Lo and behold this past Monday the local PD Joint Terrorism Task Force paid him a visit and asked him why he'd been taking photos of the American Embassy??!!
It turns out the embassy was in the camera's field of view. They came with a file on him with pictures of his father, a well known local business man. The family is originally from an Arab country having come to the states in the early seventies and are now naturalized American citizens.
They asked him if he contributes to any charities. He said he did, The United Way, The City of Hope and other mainstream charities. Then they asked him about Islamic charities and received a negative reply. It's shaken him up quite a bit as you can imagine but at the same time he's very calm about it as he has absolutely no cause for concern.
I've known this fellow for 30 years. This is what's known as profiling. A well dressed Arab-American staying in a luxury hotel innocently taking photos out his window ends up on a watch list. I hope it stops with this. I hope there isn't any more to it. The government can make someone's life a living hell regardless of guilt or innocence. If it were you or I would we be subject to the same questioning? Would anyone have bothered to report a middle aged European-American taking photos out the window?
To their credit, according to my friend, the police were somewhat sheepish and very polite. He invited them in, congratulated them on their vigilance and thanked them for their efforts in keeping us safe. Talk about grace under pressure.
What a trip!
--------------
The Truth Is Out There
http://www.democracynow.org/index.pl
The truth is out there – even in America, one just needs to do a bit of leg work to find it. But the desire has to be there and Joe Six-pack doesn’t seem to be very interested. He’s too busy watching WWF Smackdown and the Monster Truck Rally on ESPN.
But maybe his girlfriend Suzy Creamcheese is starting to pay a little bit of attention because Bush’s poll numbers are at an all time low. That might have something to do with the unprecedented attack on a female’s right to choose by the right wing Christian fundamentalists running this country. Let us hope the trend continues.
-----------------------
Ever heard of “The Rapture?” This is when the “true believers” are supposed to disappear off the face of the earth at the second coming. Leaving the “unbelievers” or what the Muslims call “infidels” left holding the bag. A fellow I know says “bring it on! Maybe then we’ll really be able to get something done.”
peace,
Franco
The truth is out there – even in America, one just needs to do a bit of leg work to find it. But the desire has to be there and Joe Six-pack doesn’t seem to be very interested. He’s too busy watching WWF Smackdown and the Monster Truck Rally on ESPN.
But maybe his girlfriend Suzy Creamcheese is starting to pay a little bit of attention because Bush’s poll numbers are at an all time low. That might have something to do with the unprecedented attack on a female’s right to choose by the right wing Christian fundamentalists running this country. Let us hope the trend continues.
-----------------------
Ever heard of “The Rapture?” This is when the “true believers” are supposed to disappear off the face of the earth at the second coming. Leaving the “unbelievers” or what the Muslims call “infidels” left holding the bag. A fellow I know says “bring it on! Maybe then we’ll really be able to get something done.”
peace,
Franco
Monday, May 03, 2004
A new database of wild claims, prevarications, misstatements, misrepresentations, falsities, fictions, inveracities, untruths, and fibs.
------------------------------------
Well folks, the exponential growth in dishonesty of the Bush administration and its fellow travelers is so difficult to track that the Center for American Progress has created a database for that very purpose. Hurrah! It’s the political equivalent of the Guinness Book of World Records. There for all to see and settle all those bar bets about WMD and Al-Qaida and Saddam.
Simply navigate to http://www.americanprogress.org and click on the link entitled:
"Claim vs. Fact: Database Charts Conservatives' Dishonesty" right below John Ashcroft’s glowering mug.
Some of the whoppers such as Bush’s lie in the State of the Union Address that Iraq was trying to buy uranium from Africa are very well known but there are many others which taken individually might seem to be honest mistakes. However, a tool like this enables one to look at the sheer mass of deception comprising the greatest propaganda effort in modern American history since Johnny Cochran sprung OJ.
Here are a couple of gems from the database.
Topic: Corporate Responsibility
Speaker: Bush, George - President
Date: 1/10/2002
Quote/Claim:
"[Ken Lay] was a supporter of Ann Richards in my run in 1994...And that's when I first got to know Ken and worked with Ken."
Fact:
"Texans for Public Justice, an Austin-based campaign finance reform organization, said Lay and Enron financially favored Bush in the 1994 election. The group said Richards received $12,500 from Enron sources during the 1994 election cycle. But contributions from Enron's political committee and executives totaled $146,500 for Bush, including $47,500 directly from Lay and his wife, Linda. According to the Center for Public Integrity, Enron and Lay have donated more than $550,000 to Bush since 1993, making the company his top career patron." - Houston Chronicle, 1/11/02 "Lay was co-chairman of the host committee for the Republican National Convention when it was held in Houston in 1992" - the same year George W. Bush "played an active role in his father's unsuccessful campaign for a second term." - AP, 1/12/03
Here’s another:
Topic: Economy - Jobs
Speaker: Bush, George - President
Date: 2/23/2004
Quote/Claim:
"At home, obviously, the economy and jobs are on my mind. I know they're on yours, as well. I'm pleased that the economy is growing -- 5.6% unemployment is a good national number."
Fact:
"There are the 8.7 million unemployed, defined as those without a job who are actively looking for work. But lurking behind that group are 4.9 million part-time workers who say they would rather be working full time — the highest number in a decade. There are also the 1.5 million people who want a job but didn't look for one" because the economy had become so bleak. "Add these three groups together and the jobless total for the U.S. hits 9.7%." Even the official unemployment rate is misleading. While "the unemployment rate fell to 5.7 percent from 5.9 percent, that was because more people gave up looking for work." All told, the February 2004 drop "was wholly due to a contraction in the labor force, which declined by 309,000." As the New York Times noted, "compared with previous economic recoveries, job growth remains well below par." - LA Times, 12/29/03; Knight-Ridder, 1/10/04; EPI, 1/9/04; NY Times, 2/22/04
------------------------------------------------------------------
The fact is this administration has engaged in the most overt, aggressive propaganda campaign of any American Presidency in memory. That’s saying something because, LBJ, Nixon and Ronald Reagan were no slouches at verbal sleight of hand either. Remember: “the light at the end of the tunnel”, and “I am not a crook” and “... we will never negotiate with terrorists”?
They continue to tell us one thing while the facts say another. It’s an old propaganda tool (used by you know who); repeat the lie often enough and in the collective mind it becomes the truth. The American people were stampeded into a war based on falsehoods and fear mongering, using the horror of 9/11 and 3000 dead Americans to justify geopolitical ambitions that stretch back decades. It’s positively Orwellian. Double speak and double think at it’s finest.
WMD: “...we don’t want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud”
9/11 and Iraq: "We learn more and more that there was a relationship between Iraq and Al Qaeda that stretched back through most of the decade of the '90s," Cheney said, "that it involved training, for example, on [biological and chemical weapons], that Al Qaeda sent personnel to Baghdad to get trained on the systems." But intelligence specialists told the (Boston) Globe last August (2003) that they have never confirmed that the training took place, or identified where it could have taken place. "The general public just doesn't have any independent way of weighing what is said," Cannistraro, the former CIA counterterrorism specialist, said. "If you repeat it enough times . . . then people become convinced it's the truth."
Tax cuts, “compassionate conservatism”, the “Clean Air Act,” “No Child Left Behind”, “the Medicare Prescription Drug benefit”, it goes on and on.
-----------------------------------------------------
One thing that GWB has managed to put plainly before us is that he is a fundamentalist Christian. Last Thursday (April 29th, 2004) evening the PBS documentary series “Frontline” broadcast an episode entitled “The Jesus Factor” wherein portrayed is a messianic, zealot of a man committed to turning America away from being a pluralistic tolerant society where freedom of religion is guaranteed under the Constitution to a Christian fundamentalist society that tolerates no views or religion other than its own. We in this country have no problem with any religion as long as it’s kept separate from government and the believers don’t try to force it on the rest of society. Religion was and continues to be responsible for some of the worst horrors the world has ever known. Let’s not continue to repeat history by launching religious wars against the world and those who believe in a different path to heaven.
Here are some quotes from GWB: “God wants me to be President”, and while holding a Bible above his head said that there was a “higher law I follow than the Constitution of the United States” – didn’t he swear (on the Bible no less) to defend and protect the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic? He also said that if you aren’t a born again Christian that you will not go to heaven and called Billy Graham on the phone to back him up! I’m not making this stuff up. The information is out there. Is it any wonder that Muslims distrust our government? He has consistently pushed his religious views both through his domestic and foreign policy. Initially calling the Afghanistan war “Infinite Justice” and likening the then coming war in Iraq to a “Crusade”. A clash of civilizations surely exists in the mind of GWB and his fundamentalist Christian followers.
What’s the essential difference between a man of this fundamentalist zealotry in charge of the mightiest military machine in history and the fundamentalist Muslims that targeted the twin towers, or the fundamentalist Hindus that riot, rampage and kill Muslims in India, or the fundamentalist Muslims against the Hindus in Pakistan, the Taliban, fundamentalist Muslims targeting Jews, ultra-orthodox fundamentalist Jews that commit acts of terror against Arabs and consistently thwart reasonable peace efforts between Israel and the Palestinians? Do we see a thread here?
Fundamentalism is not the solution it is *the* problem. The clash of civilizations coming in this world will be between the great majority of people who just want to get on with their lives, raise their kids with a minimum of fuss and bother (kids are enough fuss and bother in any case) and the fundamentalists that want to remake the world, by force if necessary, in their image therefore returning the world to some beatific time when their religion was the law of their land. In many places it still is. Called “Sharia” in the Muslim world, the Koran is the law of the land in Saudi Arabia and Iran. Do we want a fundamentalist Christian Sharia in the USA? No? Well, then let’s vote out of power those who would put this land under religious authority and never let them back in.
Thanks to the founding fathers this is America and we do have a Constitution, we are a nation of laws, where one person has one vote regardless of their religion and the Constitution requires the separation of church and state and minority rights are protected against a tyrannical majority. Yes, many of the founding fathers were religious and pious men. Not all, but many. Collectively they also had the wisdom to render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and that which is God’s to God. The kings of Europe governed by divine right sanctioned by a state religion and they wanted no part of that for Americans.
The mullahs in Iran govern by divine right and the Saudi royal family claims divine sanction as well. GWB believes he’s president by divine providence. However, it’s one thing to believe that one has ascended to the highest office in the land with the help of one's creator and another to believe that you are sanctioned by God to lead a crusade against the “evildoers” and the “Axis of Evil” and, among many other things, appoint judges to follow fundamentalist tenets in their judicial rulings. What is this??? “The Lord of the Rings?” This is no fantasy world where sorcerers and knights, fair damsels, dwarves and hobbits vanquish the evil empire. This is the real McCoy.
So let’s use our votes to remove GWB from office. If he’s gotten away with this much in his first four years can you imagine the damage he will do if he’s given another four years? Without another election to face?
One more thing: our soldiers make the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq but GWB doesn’t want the richest Americans to give up their tax cuts – huh?
peace,
Frank
Well folks, the exponential growth in dishonesty of the Bush administration and its fellow travelers is so difficult to track that the Center for American Progress has created a database for that very purpose. Hurrah! It’s the political equivalent of the Guinness Book of World Records. There for all to see and settle all those bar bets about WMD and Al-Qaida and Saddam.
Simply navigate to http://www.americanprogress.org and click on the link entitled:
"Claim vs. Fact: Database Charts Conservatives' Dishonesty" right below John Ashcroft’s glowering mug.
Some of the whoppers such as Bush’s lie in the State of the Union Address that Iraq was trying to buy uranium from Africa are very well known but there are many others which taken individually might seem to be honest mistakes. However, a tool like this enables one to look at the sheer mass of deception comprising the greatest propaganda effort in modern American history since Johnny Cochran sprung OJ.
Here are a couple of gems from the database.
Topic: Corporate Responsibility
Speaker: Bush, George - President
Date: 1/10/2002
Quote/Claim:
"[Ken Lay] was a supporter of Ann Richards in my run in 1994...And that's when I first got to know Ken and worked with Ken."
Fact:
"Texans for Public Justice, an Austin-based campaign finance reform organization, said Lay and Enron financially favored Bush in the 1994 election. The group said Richards received $12,500 from Enron sources during the 1994 election cycle. But contributions from Enron's political committee and executives totaled $146,500 for Bush, including $47,500 directly from Lay and his wife, Linda. According to the Center for Public Integrity, Enron and Lay have donated more than $550,000 to Bush since 1993, making the company his top career patron." - Houston Chronicle, 1/11/02 "Lay was co-chairman of the host committee for the Republican National Convention when it was held in Houston in 1992" - the same year George W. Bush "played an active role in his father's unsuccessful campaign for a second term." - AP, 1/12/03
Here’s another:
Topic: Economy - Jobs
Speaker: Bush, George - President
Date: 2/23/2004
Quote/Claim:
"At home, obviously, the economy and jobs are on my mind. I know they're on yours, as well. I'm pleased that the economy is growing -- 5.6% unemployment is a good national number."
Fact:
"There are the 8.7 million unemployed, defined as those without a job who are actively looking for work. But lurking behind that group are 4.9 million part-time workers who say they would rather be working full time — the highest number in a decade. There are also the 1.5 million people who want a job but didn't look for one" because the economy had become so bleak. "Add these three groups together and the jobless total for the U.S. hits 9.7%." Even the official unemployment rate is misleading. While "the unemployment rate fell to 5.7 percent from 5.9 percent, that was because more people gave up looking for work." All told, the February 2004 drop "was wholly due to a contraction in the labor force, which declined by 309,000." As the New York Times noted, "compared with previous economic recoveries, job growth remains well below par." - LA Times, 12/29/03; Knight-Ridder, 1/10/04; EPI, 1/9/04; NY Times, 2/22/04
------------------------------------------------------------------
The fact is this administration has engaged in the most overt, aggressive propaganda campaign of any American Presidency in memory. That’s saying something because, LBJ, Nixon and Ronald Reagan were no slouches at verbal sleight of hand either. Remember: “the light at the end of the tunnel”, and “I am not a crook” and “... we will never negotiate with terrorists”?
They continue to tell us one thing while the facts say another. It’s an old propaganda tool (used by you know who); repeat the lie often enough and in the collective mind it becomes the truth. The American people were stampeded into a war based on falsehoods and fear mongering, using the horror of 9/11 and 3000 dead Americans to justify geopolitical ambitions that stretch back decades. It’s positively Orwellian. Double speak and double think at it’s finest.
WMD: “...we don’t want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud”
9/11 and Iraq: "We learn more and more that there was a relationship between Iraq and Al Qaeda that stretched back through most of the decade of the '90s," Cheney said, "that it involved training, for example, on [biological and chemical weapons], that Al Qaeda sent personnel to Baghdad to get trained on the systems." But intelligence specialists told the (Boston) Globe last August (2003) that they have never confirmed that the training took place, or identified where it could have taken place. "The general public just doesn't have any independent way of weighing what is said," Cannistraro, the former CIA counterterrorism specialist, said. "If you repeat it enough times . . . then people become convinced it's the truth."
Tax cuts, “compassionate conservatism”, the “Clean Air Act,” “No Child Left Behind”, “the Medicare Prescription Drug benefit”, it goes on and on.
-----------------------------------------------------
One thing that GWB has managed to put plainly before us is that he is a fundamentalist Christian. Last Thursday (April 29th, 2004) evening the PBS documentary series “Frontline” broadcast an episode entitled “The Jesus Factor” wherein portrayed is a messianic, zealot of a man committed to turning America away from being a pluralistic tolerant society where freedom of religion is guaranteed under the Constitution to a Christian fundamentalist society that tolerates no views or religion other than its own. We in this country have no problem with any religion as long as it’s kept separate from government and the believers don’t try to force it on the rest of society. Religion was and continues to be responsible for some of the worst horrors the world has ever known. Let’s not continue to repeat history by launching religious wars against the world and those who believe in a different path to heaven.
Here are some quotes from GWB: “God wants me to be President”, and while holding a Bible above his head said that there was a “higher law I follow than the Constitution of the United States” – didn’t he swear (on the Bible no less) to defend and protect the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic? He also said that if you aren’t a born again Christian that you will not go to heaven and called Billy Graham on the phone to back him up! I’m not making this stuff up. The information is out there. Is it any wonder that Muslims distrust our government? He has consistently pushed his religious views both through his domestic and foreign policy. Initially calling the Afghanistan war “Infinite Justice” and likening the then coming war in Iraq to a “Crusade”. A clash of civilizations surely exists in the mind of GWB and his fundamentalist Christian followers.
What’s the essential difference between a man of this fundamentalist zealotry in charge of the mightiest military machine in history and the fundamentalist Muslims that targeted the twin towers, or the fundamentalist Hindus that riot, rampage and kill Muslims in India, or the fundamentalist Muslims against the Hindus in Pakistan, the Taliban, fundamentalist Muslims targeting Jews, ultra-orthodox fundamentalist Jews that commit acts of terror against Arabs and consistently thwart reasonable peace efforts between Israel and the Palestinians? Do we see a thread here?
Fundamentalism is not the solution it is *the* problem. The clash of civilizations coming in this world will be between the great majority of people who just want to get on with their lives, raise their kids with a minimum of fuss and bother (kids are enough fuss and bother in any case) and the fundamentalists that want to remake the world, by force if necessary, in their image therefore returning the world to some beatific time when their religion was the law of their land. In many places it still is. Called “Sharia” in the Muslim world, the Koran is the law of the land in Saudi Arabia and Iran. Do we want a fundamentalist Christian Sharia in the USA? No? Well, then let’s vote out of power those who would put this land under religious authority and never let them back in.
Thanks to the founding fathers this is America and we do have a Constitution, we are a nation of laws, where one person has one vote regardless of their religion and the Constitution requires the separation of church and state and minority rights are protected against a tyrannical majority. Yes, many of the founding fathers were religious and pious men. Not all, but many. Collectively they also had the wisdom to render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and that which is God’s to God. The kings of Europe governed by divine right sanctioned by a state religion and they wanted no part of that for Americans.
The mullahs in Iran govern by divine right and the Saudi royal family claims divine sanction as well. GWB believes he’s president by divine providence. However, it’s one thing to believe that one has ascended to the highest office in the land with the help of one's creator and another to believe that you are sanctioned by God to lead a crusade against the “evildoers” and the “Axis of Evil” and, among many other things, appoint judges to follow fundamentalist tenets in their judicial rulings. What is this??? “The Lord of the Rings?” This is no fantasy world where sorcerers and knights, fair damsels, dwarves and hobbits vanquish the evil empire. This is the real McCoy.
So let’s use our votes to remove GWB from office. If he’s gotten away with this much in his first four years can you imagine the damage he will do if he’s given another four years? Without another election to face?
One more thing: our soldiers make the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq but GWB doesn’t want the richest Americans to give up their tax cuts – huh?
peace,
Frank
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