No food, no water, no plumbing, no electricity, looting, lack of law enforcement. Sound familiar. Well, what's going on in the U.S. south right now has been going on in Iraq for the past couple of years. And we have our vacation-prone president to thank for both.
You say Katrina was a natural disaster? Yes it was. But the aftermath could have been prevented. Due to the Iraq war he underfunded the securing of the levies that failed in New Orleans. And the reason for the cuts. When you run an inept war and give huge tax cuts to the folks that really don't need it, you've got to cut someplace. It's similar to cutting jobs to strengthen the bottom line for a corporation.
If that weren't bad enough most of the National Guard in Iraq come from the southern states that are suffering from this disaster. Along with the National Guard troops goes their equipment. Trucks, Humvees, generators, etc.
So Bush takes our National Guard and basically destroys Iraq. Then has Halliburton rebuild it. But Halliburton isn't doing a very good job of rebuilding, only getting paid. There still is $8 billion missing and we cannot yet get an investigation into where it went. Just think if you are a soldier in Iraq from New Orleans. Your family is probably one of the ones living in poverty and is in the Dome as a refugee being evacuated to the Dome in Texas. How helpless do you think that soldier must be knowing that he is part of the aid that should be there to take care of his home town not to mention his family. Instead he's up to his neck in B.S. in Iraq and his family has become refugees in the U.S. Now this is a hypothetical scenario but I think it's more typical than you'd want to think it is.
Back to Bush and his priorities. Tsunami. He acknowledges it three days after it happens and pledges a few dollars. Katrina, the largest natural disaster in our history. He acknowledges it and shortens his five week vacation by almost two days, but that's two days after the disaster. Terri Schiavo case. He leaves his Texas ranch in the middle of the night to bring Congress in session to keep the feeding tube in her. He only makes a move if it is to his political advantage and nothing less.
If people can't see this idiots true colors they are as blind as Terri Schiavo was. The longer this guy is in office the better chance that this country is going to go down in flames. Three more years . . . God help us!
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Sunday, August 28, 2005
IRAQ / VIET NAM
So now it is finally being compared . . . Iraq is starting to look like Viet Nam. There are similarities and differences.
Similarities -- guerilla warfare, unrecognizable enemy, war protests at home, administration lies to cover up blunders, etc.
Differences -- all volunteer army, no draft, more biased news coverage.
There are probably more similarities and differences. But a big one would be that during the Viet Nam War, as W. can attest to, you joined the reserves and national guard to avoid Viet Nam. The National Guard in particular has a specific job to perform. By definition they guard the nation.
So, what do we do ? We send our National Guard and Reserve units to Iraq. We abuse the hell out of them (long, extended tours of duty, inadequate body and vehicle armour, inadequate care after duty, etc.) I think we are about to find out what we are supposed to use the National Guard for.
We have a young lady named Katrina that's about to devour Louisiana. Hopefully it doesn't, but as of this writing it seems inevitable. My point is, that when this does happen, who do you you think is activated to keep the peace, assist in cleanup, etc. It's the National Guard. If this becomes another 1968 and we start having war protests and riots, who do you think we call to assist law enforcement. It's the National Guard.
According to predictions the Atlantic Coast is looking at a period of a decade or two of strong hurricanes. To secure our citizens and their property it's going to take manpower and money. I think we are eventually going to find out that this adventure in Iraq has sucked all the manpower and finances we'll need for these disasters.
They're calling Katerina the 500 year storm, meaning it's a storm that only comes along every 500 years it's so bad. Well, I also think we have a 500 year President to go along with it. We are soooo screwed!!!!!!!!!!
Similarities -- guerilla warfare, unrecognizable enemy, war protests at home, administration lies to cover up blunders, etc.
Differences -- all volunteer army, no draft, more biased news coverage.
There are probably more similarities and differences. But a big one would be that during the Viet Nam War, as W. can attest to, you joined the reserves and national guard to avoid Viet Nam. The National Guard in particular has a specific job to perform. By definition they guard the nation.
So, what do we do ? We send our National Guard and Reserve units to Iraq. We abuse the hell out of them (long, extended tours of duty, inadequate body and vehicle armour, inadequate care after duty, etc.) I think we are about to find out what we are supposed to use the National Guard for.
We have a young lady named Katrina that's about to devour Louisiana. Hopefully it doesn't, but as of this writing it seems inevitable. My point is, that when this does happen, who do you you think is activated to keep the peace, assist in cleanup, etc. It's the National Guard. If this becomes another 1968 and we start having war protests and riots, who do you think we call to assist law enforcement. It's the National Guard.
According to predictions the Atlantic Coast is looking at a period of a decade or two of strong hurricanes. To secure our citizens and their property it's going to take manpower and money. I think we are eventually going to find out that this adventure in Iraq has sucked all the manpower and finances we'll need for these disasters.
They're calling Katerina the 500 year storm, meaning it's a storm that only comes along every 500 years it's so bad. Well, I also think we have a 500 year President to go along with it. We are soooo screwed!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, August 26, 2005
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
ASSASSINATION NATION
Someone in this administration must come out and condemn the words of Pat Robertson, very loudly. If we don't it is, by silence, at least a distant option. About a year ago or so General Boykin, in uniform, gave a speech where he said -- referring to the Muslim religion -- that our God (Christian) is better than their God (Muslim). That statement pretty much fell by the wayside with no denouncing from the administration.
So, when Pat Robertson who was a candidate for the Presidency comes out for the assassination of a democratically elected President (Hugo Chavez) with a 70% approval rating in his country you can't just ignore it. Bush probably won't condemn Robertson's statements lest he anger his base and lose more of his approval rating. He's kind of caught between Iraq and a hard place. But this sends a wrong signal to the rest of the world. First, it appears that we would consider taking out leaders that we don't agree with. Second, it sends the message to other countries that this is a democratic way of doing business.
The only response that I've found so far is from Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld when asked about Robertson's comments, "Our department doesn't do that type of thing. It's against the law. He's a private citizen. Private citizens say all kinds of things all the time." To me that's a pretty light-weight response. Apparently the Christian-right has taken the ten commandments down a notch to nine.
Venezuela's Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said the U.S. response to Robertson would be a test of its anti-terrorist policy and that Venezuela was studying its legal options.
Sometimes it's what you don't say that gets you into trouble.
So, when Pat Robertson who was a candidate for the Presidency comes out for the assassination of a democratically elected President (Hugo Chavez) with a 70% approval rating in his country you can't just ignore it. Bush probably won't condemn Robertson's statements lest he anger his base and lose more of his approval rating. He's kind of caught between Iraq and a hard place. But this sends a wrong signal to the rest of the world. First, it appears that we would consider taking out leaders that we don't agree with. Second, it sends the message to other countries that this is a democratic way of doing business.
The only response that I've found so far is from Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld when asked about Robertson's comments, "Our department doesn't do that type of thing. It's against the law. He's a private citizen. Private citizens say all kinds of things all the time." To me that's a pretty light-weight response. Apparently the Christian-right has taken the ten commandments down a notch to nine.
Venezuela's Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said the U.S. response to Robertson would be a test of its anti-terrorist policy and that Venezuela was studying its legal options.
Sometimes it's what you don't say that gets you into trouble.
Sunday, August 21, 2005
STILL TRYING TO BEAT THIS FALSE CONNECTION INTO THE HEADS OF AMERICA
I believe this started with Rumsfeld. There are plans for a Freedom Walk on Sept. 11, which will start at the Pentagon and end at the National Mall with a Clint Black concert. So we have a memorial for Americans who died on 9/11 combined with a tribute to the troops in Iraq. Marching and entertainment. The tragedy of 9/11 and the war in Iraq. They still keep trying to tie the two together.
This administration could not find the weapons of mass destruction that was the reason we went to war. And they've tried to produce different reasons for why we went into Iraq -- they had the capabilities to produce weapons of mass destruction, not -- spread freedom and democracy throughout Iraq, not -- etc. We have created a training ground for al-Quaida in Iraq and that's it. We're less safe for this administrations so-called efforts and that's it. They are still trying to either beat it into our heads or subliminally inject it that there is a tie-in between al-Quaida and Iraq.
So the walk ends with a Clint Black concert, who's song about the Iraq was, "I Raq and Roll" with lyrics containing "our troops take out the garbage, for the good old U.S.A." Memorial service or testosterone release. You want to release some testosterone join the military and go do your part in Iraq.
I can't help but think that this is an attempt for the administration to dilute the interest that Cindy Sheehan and othe Iraq war dead's mothers have stirred up to debate the lie that put us there. With the polls resting where they are I don't think the Defense Department's mixture of mourning and celebration is going to be taken as anything more than another slick PR move . . . at least I hope not.
This administration could not find the weapons of mass destruction that was the reason we went to war. And they've tried to produce different reasons for why we went into Iraq -- they had the capabilities to produce weapons of mass destruction, not -- spread freedom and democracy throughout Iraq, not -- etc. We have created a training ground for al-Quaida in Iraq and that's it. We're less safe for this administrations so-called efforts and that's it. They are still trying to either beat it into our heads or subliminally inject it that there is a tie-in between al-Quaida and Iraq.
So the walk ends with a Clint Black concert, who's song about the Iraq was, "I Raq and Roll" with lyrics containing "our troops take out the garbage, for the good old U.S.A." Memorial service or testosterone release. You want to release some testosterone join the military and go do your part in Iraq.
I can't help but think that this is an attempt for the administration to dilute the interest that Cindy Sheehan and othe Iraq war dead's mothers have stirred up to debate the lie that put us there. With the polls resting where they are I don't think the Defense Department's mixture of mourning and celebration is going to be taken as anything more than another slick PR move . . . at least I hope not.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
BUSH ALREADY MADE HIS DECISION WHICH ONE GETS THE MEETING
maybe if she gave hime a check for his time
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
OUR WAR PRESIDENT
i'm a tough cowboy
there's only one of the above four situations that he would have to deal with himself. i guess unless he can pass it off to someone else he can't get tough.
PRIORITIES
Bush still refuses to meet with Cindy Sheehan, the mother camped out near Crawford, Texas. On the upside for the administration, it has taken the Karl Rove story off the front page. One the downside it is focusing the blunders of this administration in Iraq.
Bush is down there for five weeks' vacation, with nothing more on his schedule than exercise, ride his bike, clear brush and go for a bike ride with Lance Armstrong. If I was Lance Armstrong I think I would take a pass lest he muddy his recent accomplishments. Anyway, with nothing better to do and nothing demanding on his schedule he can't walk down to the end of the driveway and deal with this. If you remember there is only one time he was able to be bothered while vacationing at the ranch. No, it wasn't August 6, 2001 when he got the Presidential Daily Briefing that bin Laden was intent on attacking within the U.S. He was up in the middle of the night hightailing it back to Washington to sign the Terri Schiavo bill, which turned out to be quite a fiasco.
Cindy Sheehan seems to be turning out to be a 'mother of one', and it should probably be a lesson to us all who say, "I am only one person, what can I do?" There are candlelight vigils goin on around the country at 7:30 pm this evening.
You can click on the following link to locate a site near you.
http://political.moveon.org/event/events/?action_id=24&search_distance=30&search_zip=60618&submit=1&id=5899-4189778-UafPs71_UU9PpTLZ7seKXA&t=4
Bush is down there for five weeks' vacation, with nothing more on his schedule than exercise, ride his bike, clear brush and go for a bike ride with Lance Armstrong. If I was Lance Armstrong I think I would take a pass lest he muddy his recent accomplishments. Anyway, with nothing better to do and nothing demanding on his schedule he can't walk down to the end of the driveway and deal with this. If you remember there is only one time he was able to be bothered while vacationing at the ranch. No, it wasn't August 6, 2001 when he got the Presidential Daily Briefing that bin Laden was intent on attacking within the U.S. He was up in the middle of the night hightailing it back to Washington to sign the Terri Schiavo bill, which turned out to be quite a fiasco.
Cindy Sheehan seems to be turning out to be a 'mother of one', and it should probably be a lesson to us all who say, "I am only one person, what can I do?" There are candlelight vigils goin on around the country at 7:30 pm this evening.
You can click on the following link to locate a site near you.
http://political.moveon.org/event/events/?action_id=24&search_distance=30&search_zip=60618&submit=1&id=5899-4189778-UafPs71_UU9PpTLZ7seKXA&t=4
Saturday, August 13, 2005
THE BOY IN THE BUBBLE
Well, President Bush on his way to a barbecue at a nearby ranch in Crawford, Texas had to pass the protest that Cindy Sheehan has started. She has in a number of different ways, most recently in a TV ad, pleaded with Bush to talk to her concerning her son's death and the war in Iraq. The only way that Bush would even be allowed to talk to this woman is if his handlers agreed to it. All the protesters would have to be replace with invited guests. Cheney and Rove would have to sit in on the conversation. Then Sheehan would hear just what she doesn't want to. 'Freedom's on the March', 'We Must Stay The Course', 'We're Fighting For A Noble Cause', 'We Must Stay Until Or Mission is Accomplished'.
Think about it. When was the last time you can remember Bush being out in the open at an un-choreographed event. The debates during the presidential elections of 2004. Even then, if you remember, he had that lump in the middle of his back and that dear-in-the-headlights look on his face. This administration has this facade that most people are starting to see through. I think that they just figure they have enough people duped to keep up the charade.
Bush is completely disconnected from the outside world. Every event he is allowed to attend is filled with invited guests. The riff-raff is kept out. You won't get into a Bush event with so much as a Kerry T-shirt or a Democratic bumper sticker. So every time Bush arrives at one of these events there's nothing but cheers, soft-scripted questions and the air of the greatest President ever arriving. That would make anyone delusional. I'm sure as his motorcade passed the Sheehan protest his handlers made sure he was insulated from seeing the protest.
I am certain that Sheehan is not going to have her meeting with Bush and I believe that if she did she would slap him in frustration. But I think she is accomplishing her mission in a different way. Bush is acting like a criminal taking the fifth in his trial. He won't answer any questions that may incriminate him. And I believe Sheehan's questions would have Bush taking more fifths than he had before becoming sober. Here's how I think the meeting might go:
Mister President why did we go into Iraq?
Mrs. Sheehan we did it to spread democracy and freedom throughout the Middle East. We did it to rid the world of an evil tyrant.
Mister President why did my son have to die?
Mrs. Sheehan your son died for a noble cause.
What noble cause?
To rid the world of an evil tyrant and spread freedom and democracy throughout the Middle East.
Mr. President why are we still in Iraq, why don't you bring our troops home?
Cindy we must stay the course and complete the mission. Pulling out would send the wrong message to the enemy.
SSLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ouch! She's a maniac. Lock her up at Gitmo.
Think about it. When was the last time you can remember Bush being out in the open at an un-choreographed event. The debates during the presidential elections of 2004. Even then, if you remember, he had that lump in the middle of his back and that dear-in-the-headlights look on his face. This administration has this facade that most people are starting to see through. I think that they just figure they have enough people duped to keep up the charade.
Bush is completely disconnected from the outside world. Every event he is allowed to attend is filled with invited guests. The riff-raff is kept out. You won't get into a Bush event with so much as a Kerry T-shirt or a Democratic bumper sticker. So every time Bush arrives at one of these events there's nothing but cheers, soft-scripted questions and the air of the greatest President ever arriving. That would make anyone delusional. I'm sure as his motorcade passed the Sheehan protest his handlers made sure he was insulated from seeing the protest.
I am certain that Sheehan is not going to have her meeting with Bush and I believe that if she did she would slap him in frustration. But I think she is accomplishing her mission in a different way. Bush is acting like a criminal taking the fifth in his trial. He won't answer any questions that may incriminate him. And I believe Sheehan's questions would have Bush taking more fifths than he had before becoming sober. Here's how I think the meeting might go:
Mister President why did we go into Iraq?
Mrs. Sheehan we did it to spread democracy and freedom throughout the Middle East. We did it to rid the world of an evil tyrant.
Mister President why did my son have to die?
Mrs. Sheehan your son died for a noble cause.
What noble cause?
To rid the world of an evil tyrant and spread freedom and democracy throughout the Middle East.
Mr. President why are we still in Iraq, why don't you bring our troops home?
Cindy we must stay the course and complete the mission. Pulling out would send the wrong message to the enemy.
SSLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ouch! She's a maniac. Lock her up at Gitmo.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
CINDY SHEEHAN PROTEST
I don't think this story has been widely reported yet. Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq last year, is camped out in Crawford, Texas and intends to stay there for the five weeks that Bush is there on his vacation or until he will come out and explain to her what the noble cause is that her son died for. She wants to know why her son died. She wants to know what the mission is that he keeps saying we're going to stay there until it is accomplished.
Bush will not come out and meet with her. Bush will not invite her to the ranch for a discussion. The reason Bush will not meet with her, in my opinion, is because he has no answers. He cannot choreograph the meeting. Whatever is said will be reported to the the White House Press Corps and whoever else might be there to report the story. She does not want to hear the spread of freedom and democracy mantra. She wants straight up true answers. She wants to hear what all of us want to hear. THE TRUTH.
There have been some threats that if she is not gone by Thursday that she would be arrested as a security threat against the president. I don't think that will happen. That would be a huge faux pas for this administration. There is some unsubstantiated information that a bank in Crawford is going to hold some sort of festival in support of Bush, denouncing Sheehan. And the soldiers at Fort Hood would be granted leave to attend this festival.
This does not surprise me. If you approach this president without an invite you will be turned away. It is common knowledge that every speech this president gives is choreographed. You do not get in without an invite. If you have an anti-Bush button, T-shirt, etc. you will be escorted away. Cindy Sheehan is grieving her dead son and want answers as to why. I believe she represents all grieving parents, siblings and children of dead soldiers. I hope this woman can open the can of worms that should give us the answers we need about this administration. More power to her.
Bush will not come out and meet with her. Bush will not invite her to the ranch for a discussion. The reason Bush will not meet with her, in my opinion, is because he has no answers. He cannot choreograph the meeting. Whatever is said will be reported to the the White House Press Corps and whoever else might be there to report the story. She does not want to hear the spread of freedom and democracy mantra. She wants straight up true answers. She wants to hear what all of us want to hear. THE TRUTH.
There have been some threats that if she is not gone by Thursday that she would be arrested as a security threat against the president. I don't think that will happen. That would be a huge faux pas for this administration. There is some unsubstantiated information that a bank in Crawford is going to hold some sort of festival in support of Bush, denouncing Sheehan. And the soldiers at Fort Hood would be granted leave to attend this festival.
This does not surprise me. If you approach this president without an invite you will be turned away. It is common knowledge that every speech this president gives is choreographed. You do not get in without an invite. If you have an anti-Bush button, T-shirt, etc. you will be escorted away. Cindy Sheehan is grieving her dead son and want answers as to why. I believe she represents all grieving parents, siblings and children of dead soldiers. I hope this woman can open the can of worms that should give us the answers we need about this administration. More power to her.
Friday, August 05, 2005
DUMA
I saw a really great family film today that ranks up there with 'Whale Rider' and 'Millions'. It's called 'Dumo'. Set in Africa, it's about a 12 year old boy that raises a cheetah from a cub to adult. The best place to get a review on the movie would be from Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun Times or Michael Wilmington of the Chicago Tribune. The sad thing is that the movie is being released in Chicago prior to New York and Los Angeles as a test market. If it does not do well here it won't receive wide distribution. Hopefully on the heels of the 'March of the Penguins' success it will make it. But sadly the box office smash this week is likely to be the thought provoking 'Dukes of Hazzard' (my tongue is firmly planted in my cheek). At least check out the trailer and if it isn't in wide release, definitely look for it on video.
DAHR JAMAIL interviews U.S. Soldiers
Dahr Jamail is one of only a handful of independent journalists to spend time in occupied Iraq. He spent 8 months there. The following is him interviewing soldiers returning from Iraq.
** Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches **** http://dahrjamailiraq.com ** August 05, 2005 "What Have We Done?"As the blood of US soldiers continues to drain into the hot sands ofIraq over the last several days with at least 27 US soldiers killed andthe approval rating for his handling of the debacle in Iraq dropping toan all-time low of 38%, Mr. Bush commented from the comforts of hisranch in Crawford, Texas today, “We will stay the course, we willcomplete the job in Iraq.”Just a two hour drive away in Dallas, at the Veterans for Peace NationalConvention in Dallas, I’m sitting with a roomful of veterans from thecurrent quagmire.When asked what he would say to Mr. Bush if he had the chance to speakto him, Abdul Henderson, a corporal in the Marines who served in Iraqfrom March until May, 2003, took a deep breath and said, “It would betwo hits-me hitting him and him hitting the floor. I see this guy in themost prestigious office in the world, and this guy says ‘bring it on.’ Aguy who ain’t never been shot at, never seen anyone suffering, saying‘bring it on?’ He gets to act like a cowboy in a western movie…it’ssickening to me.”The other vets with him nod in agreement as he speaks somberly…his angerseething.One of them, Alex Ryabov, a corporal in an artillery unit which was inIraq the first three months of the invasion, asked for some time toformulate his response to the same question.“I don’t think Bush will ever realize how many millions of lives he andhis lackeys have ruined on their quest for money, greed and power,” hesays, “To take the patriotism of the American people for granted…thefact that people (his administration) are willing to lie and makeexcuses for you while you continue to kill and maim the youth of Americaand ruin countless families…and still manage to do so with a smile onyour face.”Taking a deep breath to steady himself he continues as if addressingBush first-hand; “You needs to resign, take the billions of dollarsyou’ve made off the blood and sweat of US service members….all thesuffering you’ve caused us, and put those billions of dollars into theVA to take care of the men and women you sent to be slaughtered. Yet allthose billions aren’t enough to even try to compensate all the peoplewho have been affected by this.”These new additions to Veterans for Peace are actively living thestatement of purpose of the organization, having pledged to work withothers towards increasing public awareness of the costs of war, to workto restrain their government from intervening, overtly and covertly, inthe internal affairs of other nations and to see justice for veteransand victims of war, among other goals.I type furiously for three hours, trying to keep up with the storieseach of the men shared….about the atrocities of what they saw, andcommitted, while in Iraq.Camilo Mejia, an army staff sergeant who was sentenced to a year inmilitary prison in May, 2004 for refusing to return to Iraq after beinghome on leave, talks openly about what he did there:“What it all comes down to is redemption for what was done there. I wasturning ambulances away from going to hospitals, I killed civilians, Itortured guys…and I’m ashamed of that. Once you are there, it hasnothing to do with politics…it has to do with you as an individual beingthere and killing people for no reason. There is no purpose, and now I’msick at myself for doing these things. I kept telling myself I was therefor my buddies. It was a weak reasoning…because I still shut my mouthand did my job.”Mejia then spoke candidly about why he refused to return:“It wasn’t until I came home that I felt it-how wrong it all was andthat I was a coward for pushing my principles aside. I’m trying to buymy way back into heaven…and it’s not so much what I did, but what Ididn’t do to stop it when I was there. So now it’s a way of trying toundo the evil that we did over there. This is why I’m speaking out, andnot going back. This is a painful process and we’re going through it.”Camilo Mejia was then quick to point towards the success of hisorganization and his colleagues. “When I went back to Iraq in October of2003, the Pentagon said there were 22 AWOL’s. Five months later it was500, and when I got out of jail that number was 5,000. These are thePentagons’ numbers for the military. Two things are significant here-thenumber went from 500-5,000 in 11 months, and these are the numbers fromthe Pentagon.”While the military is falling short of its recruitment goals across theboard and the disaster in Iraq spiraling deeper into chaos with eachpassing day, these are little consolation for these men who have paidthe price they’ve had to pay to be at this convention. They continue topay, but at the same time stand firm in their resolve to bring an end tothe occupation of Iraq and to help their fellow soldiers.Ryabov then begins to tell of his unit firing the wrong artillery roundswhich hit 5-10 km from their intended target.“We have no idea where those rounds fell, or what they hit,” he saysquietly while two of the men hold their heads in their hands, “Now we’vecome to these realizations and we’re trying to educate people to savethem from going through the same thing.”After talking of the use of uranium munitions, of which Ryabov stated300 tons of which were used in the ’91 Gulf War, and 2,200 tons andcounting having been used thus far in the current war, he adds, “We wereput in a foreign country and fire artillery and kill people…and itshouldn’t have even happened in the first place. It’s hard to put intowords the full tragedy of it-the death and suffering on both sides. Ifeel a grave injustice has been done and I’m trying to correct it. Youdo all these things and come back and think, ‘what have we done?’ Wejust rolled right by an Iraqi man with a gunshot in his thigh and twoguys near him waving white flags….he probably bled to death.”Harvey Tharp sitting with us served in Kirkuk. His position of being incharge of some reconstruction projects in northern Iraq allowed him toform many close friendships with Iraqis…something that prompts him toask me to tell more people of the generous culture of the Iraqi people.His friendships apparently brought the war much closer to home for him.“What I concluded last summer when I was waiting to transfer to NSA wasthat not only were our reasons for being there lies, but we just weren’tthere to help the Iraqis. So in November of ‘04 I told my commander Icouldn’t take part in this. I would have been sent into Fallujah, and hewas going to order me in to do my job. I also chose not to go backbecause the dropping of bombs in urban areas like Fallujah are aviolation of the laws of warfare because of the near certainty ofcollateral damage. For me, seeing the full humanity of Iraqis made merealize I couldn’t participate in these operations.”Tharp goes on to say that he believes there are still Vietnam vets whothink that that was a necessary war and adds, “I think it’s because thatkeeps the demons at bay for them to believe it is justified…this istheir coping mechanism. We, as Americans, have to face the total obvioustruth that this was all because of a lie. We are speaking out because wehave to speak out. We want to help other vets tell other vets theirstory…to keep people from drinking themselves to death.”When he is asked what he would say to Mr. Bush if he had a few momentswith him, he too took some time to think about it, then says, “It isobvious that middle America is starting to turn against this war and toturn against you…for good reason. The only thing I could see that wouldarrest this inevitable fall that you deserve, is another 9/11 or anotherwar with say, Iran. There are some very credible indications in themedia that we are already in pre-war with Iran. What I’m trying to do isfind a stand Americans can take against you, but I think people arewilling to say ‘don’t you dare do this to us again.’ My message to theAmerican people is this-do you want to go another round with thesepeople? If not-now is the time to say so.”The men are using this time to tell more of why they are resisting theillegal occupation, and it’s difficult to ask new questions as they areadding to what one another share.“I didn’t want to kill another soul for no reason. That’s it,” addsHenderson, “We were firing into small towns….you see people justrunning, cars going, guys falling off bikes…it was just sad. You justsit there and look through your binos and see things blowing up, and youthink, man they have no water, living in the third world, and we’re justbombing them to hell. Blowing up buildings, shrapnel tearing people toshreds.”Tharp jumps in and adds, “Most of what we’re talking about is warcrimes…war crimes because they are directed by our government for powerprojection. My easy answer for not going is PTSD…but the deeper moralreason is that I didn’t want to be involved in a crime against humanity.”Ryabov then adds, “We were put in a foreign country to fire artilleryand kill people…and it shouldn’t have even happened in the first place.It’s hard to put into words the full tragedy of it-the death andsuffering on both sides. I feel a grave injustice has been done and I’mtrying to correct it. You do all these things and come back and think,what have we done?”Michael Hoffman served as a Marine Corps corporal who fought in Tikritand Baghdad, and has since become a co-founder of Iraq Veterans Againstthe War.“Nobody wants to kill another person and think it was because of a lie.Nobody wants to think their service was in vain,” says Hoffman.His response to what he would say to Mr. Bush is simple, “I would lookhim straight in the eye and ask him ‘why?’ And I would hold him thereand make him answer me. He never has to deal with us one on one. I darehim to talk to any of us like that, one on one, and give us an answer.”Hoffman then adds, “What about the 3 year old Iraqi girl who is now anorphan with diseases and nightmares for the rest of her life for what wedid? And the people who orchestrated this don’t have to pay anything.How many times are my children going to have to go through this? Ouronly choice is to fight this to try to stop it from happening again.”Earlier this same day Mr. Bush said, “We cannot leave this task halffinished, we must take it all the way to the end.”However, Charlie Anderson, another Iraq veteran, had strong words forBush. After discussing how the background radiation in Baghdad is nowfive times the normal rate-the equivalent of having 3 chest x-rays anhour, he said, “These are not accidents-the DU [Depleted Uraniaum]-it’simportant for people to understand this-the use of DU and its effectsare by design. These are very carefully engineered and orchestratedincidents.”While the entire group nods in agreement and two other soldiers stand upto shake his hand, Anderson says firmly, “You subverted us, youdestroyed our lives, you owe us. I want your resignation in my hand inthe next five minutes. Get packin’ Georgie.”_______________________________________________More writing, photos and commentary at http://dahrjamailiraq.comYou are subscribed to the Dahr Jamail's email Iraq Dispatches because you requested a subscription at some point.You can visit http://dahrjamailiraq.com/email_list/ to subscribe or unsubscribe to the email list.Or, you can unsubscribe by sending an email to iraq_dispatches-request@dahrjamailiraq.com and write unsubscribe in the subject or the body of the email.(c)2004, 2005 Dahr Jamail.All images and text are protected by United States and international copyright law. If you would like to reprint Dahr's Dispatches on the web, you need to include this copyright notice and a prominent link to the DahrJamailIraq.com website. Any other use of images and text including, but not limited to, reproduction, use on another website, copying and printing requires the permission of Dahr Jamail. Of course, feel free to forward Dahr's dispatches via email.Iraq_Dispatches mailing listhttp://lists.dahrjamailiraq.com/mailman/listinfo/iraq_dispatches
** Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches **** http://dahrjamailiraq.com ** August 05, 2005 "What Have We Done?"As the blood of US soldiers continues to drain into the hot sands ofIraq over the last several days with at least 27 US soldiers killed andthe approval rating for his handling of the debacle in Iraq dropping toan all-time low of 38%, Mr. Bush commented from the comforts of hisranch in Crawford, Texas today, “We will stay the course, we willcomplete the job in Iraq.”Just a two hour drive away in Dallas, at the Veterans for Peace NationalConvention in Dallas, I’m sitting with a roomful of veterans from thecurrent quagmire.When asked what he would say to Mr. Bush if he had the chance to speakto him, Abdul Henderson, a corporal in the Marines who served in Iraqfrom March until May, 2003, took a deep breath and said, “It would betwo hits-me hitting him and him hitting the floor. I see this guy in themost prestigious office in the world, and this guy says ‘bring it on.’ Aguy who ain’t never been shot at, never seen anyone suffering, saying‘bring it on?’ He gets to act like a cowboy in a western movie…it’ssickening to me.”The other vets with him nod in agreement as he speaks somberly…his angerseething.One of them, Alex Ryabov, a corporal in an artillery unit which was inIraq the first three months of the invasion, asked for some time toformulate his response to the same question.“I don’t think Bush will ever realize how many millions of lives he andhis lackeys have ruined on their quest for money, greed and power,” hesays, “To take the patriotism of the American people for granted…thefact that people (his administration) are willing to lie and makeexcuses for you while you continue to kill and maim the youth of Americaand ruin countless families…and still manage to do so with a smile onyour face.”Taking a deep breath to steady himself he continues as if addressingBush first-hand; “You needs to resign, take the billions of dollarsyou’ve made off the blood and sweat of US service members….all thesuffering you’ve caused us, and put those billions of dollars into theVA to take care of the men and women you sent to be slaughtered. Yet allthose billions aren’t enough to even try to compensate all the peoplewho have been affected by this.”These new additions to Veterans for Peace are actively living thestatement of purpose of the organization, having pledged to work withothers towards increasing public awareness of the costs of war, to workto restrain their government from intervening, overtly and covertly, inthe internal affairs of other nations and to see justice for veteransand victims of war, among other goals.I type furiously for three hours, trying to keep up with the storieseach of the men shared….about the atrocities of what they saw, andcommitted, while in Iraq.Camilo Mejia, an army staff sergeant who was sentenced to a year inmilitary prison in May, 2004 for refusing to return to Iraq after beinghome on leave, talks openly about what he did there:“What it all comes down to is redemption for what was done there. I wasturning ambulances away from going to hospitals, I killed civilians, Itortured guys…and I’m ashamed of that. Once you are there, it hasnothing to do with politics…it has to do with you as an individual beingthere and killing people for no reason. There is no purpose, and now I’msick at myself for doing these things. I kept telling myself I was therefor my buddies. It was a weak reasoning…because I still shut my mouthand did my job.”Mejia then spoke candidly about why he refused to return:“It wasn’t until I came home that I felt it-how wrong it all was andthat I was a coward for pushing my principles aside. I’m trying to buymy way back into heaven…and it’s not so much what I did, but what Ididn’t do to stop it when I was there. So now it’s a way of trying toundo the evil that we did over there. This is why I’m speaking out, andnot going back. This is a painful process and we’re going through it.”Camilo Mejia was then quick to point towards the success of hisorganization and his colleagues. “When I went back to Iraq in October of2003, the Pentagon said there were 22 AWOL’s. Five months later it was500, and when I got out of jail that number was 5,000. These are thePentagons’ numbers for the military. Two things are significant here-thenumber went from 500-5,000 in 11 months, and these are the numbers fromthe Pentagon.”While the military is falling short of its recruitment goals across theboard and the disaster in Iraq spiraling deeper into chaos with eachpassing day, these are little consolation for these men who have paidthe price they’ve had to pay to be at this convention. They continue topay, but at the same time stand firm in their resolve to bring an end tothe occupation of Iraq and to help their fellow soldiers.Ryabov then begins to tell of his unit firing the wrong artillery roundswhich hit 5-10 km from their intended target.“We have no idea where those rounds fell, or what they hit,” he saysquietly while two of the men hold their heads in their hands, “Now we’vecome to these realizations and we’re trying to educate people to savethem from going through the same thing.”After talking of the use of uranium munitions, of which Ryabov stated300 tons of which were used in the ’91 Gulf War, and 2,200 tons andcounting having been used thus far in the current war, he adds, “We wereput in a foreign country and fire artillery and kill people…and itshouldn’t have even happened in the first place. It’s hard to put intowords the full tragedy of it-the death and suffering on both sides. Ifeel a grave injustice has been done and I’m trying to correct it. Youdo all these things and come back and think, ‘what have we done?’ Wejust rolled right by an Iraqi man with a gunshot in his thigh and twoguys near him waving white flags….he probably bled to death.”Harvey Tharp sitting with us served in Kirkuk. His position of being incharge of some reconstruction projects in northern Iraq allowed him toform many close friendships with Iraqis…something that prompts him toask me to tell more people of the generous culture of the Iraqi people.His friendships apparently brought the war much closer to home for him.“What I concluded last summer when I was waiting to transfer to NSA wasthat not only were our reasons for being there lies, but we just weren’tthere to help the Iraqis. So in November of ‘04 I told my commander Icouldn’t take part in this. I would have been sent into Fallujah, and hewas going to order me in to do my job. I also chose not to go backbecause the dropping of bombs in urban areas like Fallujah are aviolation of the laws of warfare because of the near certainty ofcollateral damage. For me, seeing the full humanity of Iraqis made merealize I couldn’t participate in these operations.”Tharp goes on to say that he believes there are still Vietnam vets whothink that that was a necessary war and adds, “I think it’s because thatkeeps the demons at bay for them to believe it is justified…this istheir coping mechanism. We, as Americans, have to face the total obvioustruth that this was all because of a lie. We are speaking out because wehave to speak out. We want to help other vets tell other vets theirstory…to keep people from drinking themselves to death.”When he is asked what he would say to Mr. Bush if he had a few momentswith him, he too took some time to think about it, then says, “It isobvious that middle America is starting to turn against this war and toturn against you…for good reason. The only thing I could see that wouldarrest this inevitable fall that you deserve, is another 9/11 or anotherwar with say, Iran. There are some very credible indications in themedia that we are already in pre-war with Iran. What I’m trying to do isfind a stand Americans can take against you, but I think people arewilling to say ‘don’t you dare do this to us again.’ My message to theAmerican people is this-do you want to go another round with thesepeople? If not-now is the time to say so.”The men are using this time to tell more of why they are resisting theillegal occupation, and it’s difficult to ask new questions as they areadding to what one another share.“I didn’t want to kill another soul for no reason. That’s it,” addsHenderson, “We were firing into small towns….you see people justrunning, cars going, guys falling off bikes…it was just sad. You justsit there and look through your binos and see things blowing up, and youthink, man they have no water, living in the third world, and we’re justbombing them to hell. Blowing up buildings, shrapnel tearing people toshreds.”Tharp jumps in and adds, “Most of what we’re talking about is warcrimes…war crimes because they are directed by our government for powerprojection. My easy answer for not going is PTSD…but the deeper moralreason is that I didn’t want to be involved in a crime against humanity.”Ryabov then adds, “We were put in a foreign country to fire artilleryand kill people…and it shouldn’t have even happened in the first place.It’s hard to put into words the full tragedy of it-the death andsuffering on both sides. I feel a grave injustice has been done and I’mtrying to correct it. You do all these things and come back and think,what have we done?”Michael Hoffman served as a Marine Corps corporal who fought in Tikritand Baghdad, and has since become a co-founder of Iraq Veterans Againstthe War.“Nobody wants to kill another person and think it was because of a lie.Nobody wants to think their service was in vain,” says Hoffman.His response to what he would say to Mr. Bush is simple, “I would lookhim straight in the eye and ask him ‘why?’ And I would hold him thereand make him answer me. He never has to deal with us one on one. I darehim to talk to any of us like that, one on one, and give us an answer.”Hoffman then adds, “What about the 3 year old Iraqi girl who is now anorphan with diseases and nightmares for the rest of her life for what wedid? And the people who orchestrated this don’t have to pay anything.How many times are my children going to have to go through this? Ouronly choice is to fight this to try to stop it from happening again.”Earlier this same day Mr. Bush said, “We cannot leave this task halffinished, we must take it all the way to the end.”However, Charlie Anderson, another Iraq veteran, had strong words forBush. After discussing how the background radiation in Baghdad is nowfive times the normal rate-the equivalent of having 3 chest x-rays anhour, he said, “These are not accidents-the DU [Depleted Uraniaum]-it’simportant for people to understand this-the use of DU and its effectsare by design. These are very carefully engineered and orchestratedincidents.”While the entire group nods in agreement and two other soldiers stand upto shake his hand, Anderson says firmly, “You subverted us, youdestroyed our lives, you owe us. I want your resignation in my hand inthe next five minutes. Get packin’ Georgie.”_______________________________________________More writing, photos and commentary at http://dahrjamailiraq.comYou are subscribed to the Dahr Jamail's email Iraq Dispatches because you requested a subscription at some point.You can visit http://dahrjamailiraq.com/email_list/ to subscribe or unsubscribe to the email list.Or, you can unsubscribe by sending an email to iraq_dispatches-request@dahrjamailiraq.com and write unsubscribe in the subject or the body of the email.(c)2004, 2005 Dahr Jamail.All images and text are protected by United States and international copyright law. If you would like to reprint Dahr's Dispatches on the web, you need to include this copyright notice and a prominent link to the DahrJamailIraq.com website. Any other use of images and text including, but not limited to, reproduction, use on another website, copying and printing requires the permission of Dahr Jamail. Of course, feel free to forward Dahr's dispatches via email.Iraq_Dispatches mailing listhttp://lists.dahrjamailiraq.com/mailman/listinfo/iraq_dispatches
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
TEN DAYS WORTH OF THOUGHTS
Karl Rove -- This is old news about him outing Valerie Plame, the wife of Joe Wilson, as a CIA agent, but let me put some perspective on it. Now, one of the biggest problems this administrtation has had is intelligence, in more than one context. But we have had manipulated, wrong, misinformed or whatever adjective you want to use, intelligence on most levels. This administration sold the war on weapons of mass destruction. Valerie Plame was a covert agent comcerning intelligence on nuclear weapons. So Rove, like some pissed off little kid, decides to seek vengeance against Joe Wilson for not going along with the existence of 'yellowcake' being sought by Saadam in Niger. By outing an CIA agent he put potentially her life, but likely other people that she has dealt with over the years. Once her cover was blown it changed the dynamic of any undercover work she was doing.
War on Terror -- Cheney remarks that it's in its last throes, Rumsfelt, a couple of days later, says that it could last 3, 6 even 12 years. Things are going better in Iraq, so they say. And yet between yesterday and today 20 soldiers have been killed. The total is now over 1,800 and counting.
War on Drugs -- The cover story in Newsweek this week is about the epidemic problem of methamphetamine, affecting everyone from gay communities, teenagers and even soccer moms. So where does George and the boys focus their war on drugs . . . POT. According to a story in Rolling Stone (August 11 issue) pot now accounts for nearly half of drug arrests nationwide. By almost any measure the war on drugs has been as monumental a failure as the war in Iraq.
According to Bill Piper, national affairs director for the Drug Policy Alliance, a drug reform organization in Washington, D.C. "Drug prices are at an all-time low, drug purity is at an all-time high, and polls show that drugs are more available than ever." This administration can start a war, they just don't pick the kind that you can win. Next war will probably be a war on hatred. Why not another open-ended war.
Priorities -- With a war in Iraq going about as bad as it possibly can, a war in Afghanistan that is going a little better, terrorist attacks in London that pose the possible threat here in the U.S., not to mention the job of just being President, what does this president do? Today he leaves for a five week vacation in Crawford, Texas. From the day he took over as President until now he has taken a total of 319 days of vacation. He almost never works weekends, takes about two hours a day to work out and figures this is the way to perform as a war-time President.
He claims he still gets his PDB(Presidential Daily Briefing) even in Crawford. But remember August 6, 2001 when he got the PDB that was titled something to the effect -- Osama bin Laden determined to strike within the United States. He didn't get off the ranch. But do you remember when he jumped off the ranch in the middle of the night to meet with Congress to keep Terry Shiavo on her feeding tube.
On second thought, though, I'm sure Karl will mind the store while Bush is in Crawford. What Us Worry? Have a nice day!!!!!!!
War on Terror -- Cheney remarks that it's in its last throes, Rumsfelt, a couple of days later, says that it could last 3, 6 even 12 years. Things are going better in Iraq, so they say. And yet between yesterday and today 20 soldiers have been killed. The total is now over 1,800 and counting.
War on Drugs -- The cover story in Newsweek this week is about the epidemic problem of methamphetamine, affecting everyone from gay communities, teenagers and even soccer moms. So where does George and the boys focus their war on drugs . . . POT. According to a story in Rolling Stone (August 11 issue) pot now accounts for nearly half of drug arrests nationwide. By almost any measure the war on drugs has been as monumental a failure as the war in Iraq.
According to Bill Piper, national affairs director for the Drug Policy Alliance, a drug reform organization in Washington, D.C. "Drug prices are at an all-time low, drug purity is at an all-time high, and polls show that drugs are more available than ever." This administration can start a war, they just don't pick the kind that you can win. Next war will probably be a war on hatred. Why not another open-ended war.
Priorities -- With a war in Iraq going about as bad as it possibly can, a war in Afghanistan that is going a little better, terrorist attacks in London that pose the possible threat here in the U.S., not to mention the job of just being President, what does this president do? Today he leaves for a five week vacation in Crawford, Texas. From the day he took over as President until now he has taken a total of 319 days of vacation. He almost never works weekends, takes about two hours a day to work out and figures this is the way to perform as a war-time President.
He claims he still gets his PDB(Presidential Daily Briefing) even in Crawford. But remember August 6, 2001 when he got the PDB that was titled something to the effect -- Osama bin Laden determined to strike within the United States. He didn't get off the ranch. But do you remember when he jumped off the ranch in the middle of the night to meet with Congress to keep Terry Shiavo on her feeding tube.
On second thought, though, I'm sure Karl will mind the store while Bush is in Crawford. What Us Worry? Have a nice day!!!!!!!
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