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Why would a news organization not report on one of the top news stories in the last decade?
hmmmm...
Glenzilla has the full story

[ more.. ]

Our old buddy Richard Perle is back in the news with his new venture.

Perle, one of the most influential proponents of 2003 invasion of Iraq, is in talks to join a consortium of investors with the Kurdish Regional Government, today's Wall Street Journal reports.

The Journal reports that Perle is talking with a Turkish firm, AK Group International, and also a representative from the government of Kazakhstan. They are targeting the co-called "K18 concession" which is near the city of Erbil and is estimated to hold 150 million or more barrels of oil.

There is a special place in hell reserved for this man.
As Bryon Gysin said: "Man Is A Bad Animal."

From the AP

Texas' Hunt Oil Co. and Kurdistan's regional government said Saturday they've signed a production-sharing contract for petroleum exploration in northern Iraq, the first such deal since the Kurds passed their own oil and gas law in August.

A Hunt subsidiary, Hunt Oil Co. of the Kurdistan Region, will begin geological survey and seismic work by the end of 2007 and hopes to drill an exploration well in 2008, the parties said in a news release. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

From Hunt's bio: "In October 2001 and again in January 2006, Mr. Hunt was appointed by President George W. Bush to the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board in Washington, D.C."

-Via Josh Marshall

"If a man has values and standards, but does not live up to them, it does nothing to discredit the validity or those values and standards, and he is far preferable to those timid souls who, without values and standards, cannot fall short of them nor ever run the risk of being charged with hypocrisy,"
- - Rep. Richard Baker, R-Baton

wow.. just wow.

M E R R Y    F I T Z M A S ! !

The day is finally here....

Media Matters does a great job of documenting the numerous instances of conservative misinformation about the CIA leak case.

Update: This is great. Rush Limbaugh is warning that the country should beware of "Poking The Bear".
There's a quote that the conservatives will choke on. muhahahaaaa

This is hilarious.. from The Weekly Stoopids back in April 2003.

They attempt to document for posterity sake all the people who thought the Iraq war wouldn't be the bestest war evah!
All of whom turned out to be exactly right.

Such luminarys featured:

Eric Alterman

Nicholas D. Kristof

Chris Matthews

Scott Ritter

James Webb

James K. Galbraith

Ted Rall

Peter Arnett

I'm actually amazed this article hasn't been disappeared down the rabbit hole of history.

Via This Modern World

We would like to apologize for the way in which politicians are represented on this blog. It was never our intention to imply that politicians are weak-kneed, political time-servers who are concerned more with their personal vendettas and private power struggles than the problems of government, nor to suggest at any point that they sacrifice their credibility by denying free debate on vital matters in the mistaken impression that party unity comes before the well-being of the people they supposedly represent nor to imply at any stage that they are squabbling little toadies without an ounce of concern for the vital social problems of today.

Nor indeed do we intend that viewers should consider them as crabby ulcerous little self-seeking vermin with furry legs and an excessive addiction to alcohol and certain explicit sexual practices, which some people might find offensive.

We are sorry if this impression has come across.

(from Monty Python episode 32

.. and it's not Korea

Experts warn of an accidental atomic war.
Nuclear missile modified for conventional attack on Iran could set off alarm in Russia.

Pentagon project to modify its deadliest nuclear missile for use as a conventional weapon against targets such as North Korea and Iran could unwittingly spark an atomic war, two weapons experts warned Thursday.

Russian military officers might misconstrue a submarine-launched conventional D5 intercontinental ballistic missile and conclude that Russia is under nuclear attack, said Ted Postol, a physicist and professor of science, technology and national security policy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Pavel Podvig, a physicist and weapons specialist at Stanford.

"Any launch of a long-range nonnuclear armed sea or land ballistic missile will cause an automated alert of the Russian early warning system," Postol told reporters.

From San Fran Chronicle

Just for the record, under Richard Clarke's leadership as Czar of Counterterrorism:

CLINTON developed the nation's first anti-terrorism policy, and appointed first national coordinator of anti-terrorist efforts.

Bill Clinton stopped cold the Al Qaeda millennium hijacking and bombing plots.

Bill Clinton stopped cold a planned attack to kill the Pope.

Bill Clinton stopped cold a planned attack to blow up 12 U.S. jetliners simultaneously.

Bill Clinton stopped cold a planned attack to blow up UN Headquarters.

Bill Clinton stopped cold a planned attack to blow up FBI Headquarters.

Bill Clinton stopped cold a planned attack to blow up the Israeli Embassy in Washington.

Bill Clinton stopped cold a planned attack to blow up Boston airport.

Bill Clinton stopped cold a planned attack to blow up Lincoln and Holland Tunnels in NY.

Bill Clinton stopped cold a planned attack to blow up the George Washington Bridge.

Bill Clinton stopped cold a planned attack to blow up the US Embassy in Albania.

Bill Clinton tried to kill Osama bin Laden and disrupt Al Qaeda through preemptive strikes (efforts denounced by the G.O.P.).

Bill Clinton brought perpetrators of first World Trade Center bombing and CIA killings to justice.

Bill Clinton did not blame the Bush I administration for first WTC bombing even though it occurred 38 days after Bush left office. Instead, worked hard, even obsessively - and successfully - to stop future terrorist attacks.

Bill Clinton named the Hart-Rudman commission to report on nature of terrorist threats and major steps to be taken to combat terrorism.

Bill Clinton sent legislation to Congress to tighten airport security. (Remember, this is before 911) The legislation was defeated by the Republicans because of opposition from the airlines.

Bill Clinton sent legislation to Congress to allow for better tracking of terrorist funding. It was defeated by Republicans in the Senate because of opposition from banking interests.

Bill Clinton sent legislation to Congress to add tagents to explosives, to allow for better tracking of explosives used by terrorists. It was defeated by the Republicans because of opposition from the NRA.

Bill Clinton increased the military budget by an average of 14 per cent, reversing the trend under Bush I.

Bill Clinton tripled the budget of the FBI for counterterrorism and doubled overall funding for counterterrorism.

Bill Clinton detected and destroyed cells of Al Qaeda in over 20 countries.

Bill Clinton created national stockpile of drugs and vaccines including 40 million doses of smallpox vaccine.

Of Clinton's efforts says Robert Oakley, Reagan Ambassador for Counterterrorism: "Overall, I give them very high marks" and "The only major criticism I have is the obsession with Osama".

Paul Bremer, current Civilian Administrator of Iraq disagrees slightly with Robert Oakley as he believed the Bill Clinton Administration had "correctly focused on bin Laden.

Barton Gellman in the Washington Post put it best, "By any measure available, Bill Clinton left office having given greater priority to terrorism than any president before him" and was the "first administration to undertake a systematic anti-terrorist effort".

Clarence Swinney,
Political Historian

via Matt Yglesias
Bush, Cheney, and those around them remind me of Nietzsche's line about staring too long into the abyss. They've become transfixed, hypnotized almost, by the evils they believe themselves to be fighting. Obsessed to the point where they've clearly developed an admiration for the brutal methods, ruthless dishonesty, and utter secrecy with which the enemies of liberalism conduct themselves.

Liberal democracy isn't a fluke occurrence that just so happens to have survived despite its drawbacks. It's actually a superior method of organizing a state. The idea that the country is being run by people who don't understand that is sad and frightening. The idea that the very same people claim to be embarked upon a grand mission to spread our system of government around the world is like a horrible tawdry joke.

"Abyssus abyssum invocat!
What is abyssus abyssum?
lt means the abyss calls the abyss." - Diva

Make your Representatives accountable AND make some money.

Zephyr Teachout of the Sunlight Foundation is offering members of the public a "goodwill bounty" of $1,000 for each Member of Congress, and $250 for each candidate, that they persuade to sign the Punch Clock Agreement, an agreement to put their daily schedules on the Internet.

Members of Congress work for us, and we should know what they do every day.

Good bye "Office Of Special Plans"

Hello "The Iran Desk"

The propaganda continues.

International terrorist acts:

2005 - 11,111 = 14,602 deaths
2004 - 651 = 1907 deaths
2003 - 208 = 625 deaths
2002 - 199 = 725 deaths
2001 - 355 = 3,295 deaths
2000 - 423 = 405 deaths
1999 - 392 = 233 deaths
1998 - 273 = 741 deaths
1997 - 304 = 221 deaths
1996 - 296 = 311 deaths

Source: US Department of State

Asia Times
"With a truce between the Pakistani Taliban and Islamabad now in place, the Pakistani government is in effect reverting to its pre-September 11, 2001, position in which it closed its eyes to militant groups allied with al-Qaeda and clearly sided with the Taliban in Afghanistan. While the truce has generated much attention, a more significant development is an underhand deal between pro-al-Qaeda elements and Pakistan in which key al-Qaeda figures will either not be arrested or those already in custody will be set free."

The National Security Strategy of the United States of America
"To defeat this threat we must make use of every tool in our arsenal—military power, better homeland defenses, law enforcement, intelligence, and vigorous efforts to cut off terrorist financing. The war against terrorists of global reach is a global enterprise of uncertain duration. America will help nations that need our assistance in combating terror. And America will hold to account nations that are compromised by terror, including those who harbor terrorists— because the allies of terror are the enemies of civilization. The United States and countries cooperating with us must not allow the terrorists to develop new home bases. Together, we will seek to deny them sanctuary at every turn."

Freeper Heads Explode in.... 3... 2...1....

I also believe there is a conspiracy plot to cover-up the black ops group hiding the secret cabal involved in the concealment of the whitewashed documents that reveal a high-level false flag junta camouflaging the real identity of the underground front group for the real perpetrators of the theft of many of the code names for the enshrouded backdoor operation that caused the failed overthrow of the original plotters.

I have proof.
I read it on a website.

The Department of the Treasury releases possible George W. Bush coin prototype:

A token coin for a token preznit.

You have GOT to hear this:
mp3 Audio - 1.2 meg

The Stephanie Miller Show caught this ad being run on FOX attempting to demonize Unions.
I thought this was a parody ad when I first heard it. Incredible.

One of my favorite acoustic guitar players as a youth was the great folkie Norman Blake. His sound was ancient and it felt like his song were written for an earlier age. Litz, one of the posters at Eschaton turned me on to this incredible protest song performed by Norman and his wife Nancy. It's called:

"Don't Be Afraid Of The Neocons"

It's the kind of comprehensive song that you could imagine being unearthed in a generation to sum up these horrific times. I'd link to the CD for purchase but I haven't yet found the source.

Here's a sample of the lyrics:

And away down yonder in the Florida sand/Old Jeb Bush is a mighty man
He told little brother, don't be blue/For I'ma gonna hand this thing to you......

The churches all got on board/In the Holy name of our Lord
They took him for their favorite son/And they sent him away to Washington.......

Now Georgie Bush, he is the man/He landed in Afghanistan
We'll get Osama, was his crack/And now we're stranded in Iraq

He told ole' Rumsfeld on the green/Now you're the best I've ever seen
Just heed my words and you'll go far/And help me win my daddy's war....

God bless the talented artists of our time.
They define our generation.

Good bye "Office Of Special Plans"

Hello "The Iran Desk"

The propaganda continues.

via Matt Yglesias
Bush, Cheney, and those around them remind me of Nietzsche's line about staring too long into the abyss. They've become transfixed, hypnotized almost, by the evils they believe themselves to be fighting. Obsessed to the point where they've clearly developed an admiration for the brutal methods, ruthless dishonesty, and utter secrecy with which the enemies of liberalism conduct themselves.

Liberal democracy isn't a fluke occurrence that just so happens to have survived despite its drawbacks. It's actually a superior method of organizing a state. The idea that the country is being run by people who don't understand that is sad and frightening. The idea that the very same people claim to be embarked upon a grand mission to spread our system of government around the world is like a horrible tawdry joke.

"Abyssus abyssum invocat!
What is abyssus abyssum?
lt means the abyss calls the abyss." - Diva

A great report from the AP on Bushs' use of the straw man in this speeches. It actually does a nice job explaining it's usage.

When the president starts a sentence with "some say" or offers up what "some in Washington" believe, as he is doing more often these days, a rhetorical retort almost assuredly follows.

The device usually is code for Democrats or other White House opponents. In describing what they advocate, Bush often omits an important nuance or substitutes an extreme stance that bears little resemblance to their actual position.

He typically then says he "strongly disagrees" — conveniently knocking down a straw man of his own making.

This is definitely a good sign. I'm fairly optimistic today... but then I just got back from "V For Vendetta". Excellent movie. Let the straw men burn......

Starting April 3rd, the Christy Harvey and Center for American Progress will be starting up a new media resource service called Mic Check. According to Christy on the Bill Press show today it will host audio clips for use by other radio shows to help get inportant (or interesting at least) information out to the public. Here's their blurb:

Mic Check will offer news, facts, gossip and audio clips for use in your shows. We’ll bring you the latest in foreign relations, from the Axis of Evil to the Paris-and-Paris breakup.

The bad part is that Christy will no longer be a full time part of the Bill Press Show. She will be missed there. Good luck on the new venture CAP.

According to most of our media here in the States, Dubai has been staying quiet about the whole ports deal. One of my co-workers was in Dubai during this whole uproar and brought back the Dubai paper. The image below was an advert in the Dubai paper that took up most of the page with an article strongly defending the deal.

Click on picture for the full scan.

It sure seems to me that Dubai has rather a strong opinion about the deal.
Go figure.

Bruce Bartlett, author of Reaganomics and member of the Reagan and George H. W. Bush administrations, has a new book out.

Impostor: How George W. Bush Bankrupted America and Betrayed the American Legacy

Maybe this will wake up a few Republicans...

Bartlett's attack boils down to one key premise: Bush is a shallow opportunist who has cast aside the principles of the "Reagan Revolution" for short-term political gains that may wind up hurting the American economy as badly as, if not worse than, Nixon's did. As part of a simple, point-by-point critique of Bush's "finger-in-the-wind" approach to economic leadership, Bartlett singles out the Medicare prescription drug bill of 2003- "the worst piece of legislation ever enacted"-as a particularly egregious example of the increases in government spending that will, he says, make tax hikes inevitable. Bush has further weakened the Republican Party by failing to establish a successor who can run in the next election, Bartlett says. If the Reaganites want to restore the party's tradition of fiscal conservatism and small government, he worries, let alone keep the Democrats out of the White House, they will have their work cut out for them.