Security contractor in Iraq answers Josh Marshall's questions
Josh Marshall gets an insider's view of how 'the street' is viewing Abu Ghraib in Iraq, the general feeling amongst the troops, and the extent to which the average soldier is able to connect with news from the outside world via internet. [LINK]
Internet muse.
Daring, bold, never sold.
My daily weblog of politics, humor, philosophy...and a constant and nagging reminder of the existence of universal love....
Friday, May 21, 2004
Chalabi Failure- Bush(neo)Conned?
Chalabi Failure-
Bush(neo)Conned?
"I am America's best friend in Iraq."
-Ahmad Chalabi
Standing of Former Key U.S. Ally in Iraq Falls to New Low
From: Robin Wright/Washington Post
Chalabi's betrayal
From: UPI
--"The Iraq Blame Game"
From: Newsmax
Chalabi's Seat of Honor Lost to Open Political Warfare With U.S.
From: David Sanger/N.Y.Times
'America's best friend in Iraq' angry over raid But Chalabi says, 'I am not marginalized'
From: David J. Lynch/USA Today
SEE IDDYBUD 9-30-03
Bush(neo)Conned?
"I am America's best friend in Iraq."
-Ahmad Chalabi
Standing of Former Key U.S. Ally in Iraq Falls to New Low
From: Robin Wright/Washington Post
Chalabi's betrayal
From: UPI
--"The Iraq Blame Game"
From: Newsmax
Chalabi's Seat of Honor Lost to Open Political Warfare With U.S.
From: David Sanger/N.Y.Times
'America's best friend in Iraq' angry over raid But Chalabi says, 'I am not marginalized'
From: David J. Lynch/USA Today
SEE IDDYBUD 9-30-03
Newsweek backs some of Maher Arar's story
Newsweek backs some of Maher Arar's story
By 2004, the United States was running a covert chartered airline moving CIA prisoners from one secret facility to another. The reason? It was judged impolitic (and too traceable)to use the U.S. Air Force.
--Newsweek Magazine
Maher Arar, 34, is the Syrian-born Canadian who was detained in the U.S. in September, 2002, while changing planes in New York on his way to Ottawa. He was deported to Jordan and then Syria, where he was kept for 10 months and interrogated before being released.
(See Iddybud/11-15-03)
Last November, the Center for Constitutional Rights asked members of both the House of Representatives committee on intelligence and its Senate counterpart to review Mr. Arar's case. At the time, a Republican member of the Senate intelligence oversight committee, provided little hope that they would take up Mr. Arar's case. "We don't have time to do it," he'd said.
I wonder if they'll find the time now....with this current Newsweek report...after Abu Ghraib...after the Canadian inquiry which is about to draw attention to yet another kind of U.S. complicity in torture?
[LINK]
SEE: America's Gulag: Stephen Grey uncovers a secret global network of prisons and planes that allows the US to hand over its enemies for interrogation, and sometimes torture, by the agents of its more unsavoury allies.
[LINK]
By 2004, the United States was running a covert chartered airline moving CIA prisoners from one secret facility to another. The reason? It was judged impolitic (and too traceable)to use the U.S. Air Force.
--Newsweek Magazine
Maher Arar, 34, is the Syrian-born Canadian who was detained in the U.S. in September, 2002, while changing planes in New York on his way to Ottawa. He was deported to Jordan and then Syria, where he was kept for 10 months and interrogated before being released.
(See Iddybud/11-15-03)
Last November, the Center for Constitutional Rights asked members of both the House of Representatives committee on intelligence and its Senate counterpart to review Mr. Arar's case. At the time, a Republican member of the Senate intelligence oversight committee, provided little hope that they would take up Mr. Arar's case. "We don't have time to do it," he'd said.
I wonder if they'll find the time now....with this current Newsweek report...after Abu Ghraib...after the Canadian inquiry which is about to draw attention to yet another kind of U.S. complicity in torture?
[LINK]
SEE: America's Gulag: Stephen Grey uncovers a secret global network of prisons and planes that allows the US to hand over its enemies for interrogation, and sometimes torture, by the agents of its more unsavoury allies.
[LINK]
Sibel Edmonds/9-11: What does Ashcroft think he's hiding?
Sibel Edmonds/9-11
What does Ashcroft think he's hiding?
Even GOP legislators in disbelief over Ashcroft's unusual retroactive classifying of Sibel Edmonds info.
Reference: Meet Sibel Edmonds/Iddybud 4-2-04
What does Ashcroft think he's hiding?
Even GOP legislators in disbelief over Ashcroft's unusual retroactive classifying of Sibel Edmonds info.
..the FBI now maintains that some of the information discussed was so potentially damaging if released publicly that it is now considered classified.
[LINK]
[LINK]
Reference: Meet Sibel Edmonds/Iddybud 4-2-04
Journalist Rashid Hamid Wali killed in Iraq
Journalist Rashid Hamid Wali killed in Iraq
According to Reuters, Rashid Hamid Wali,a father of six, was killed while Al-Jazeera was filming fighting in the southern city of Karbala where US forces are battling to put down a weeks-old rebellion by Sadr's militia. [LINK]
According to Reuters, Rashid Hamid Wali,a father of six, was killed while Al-Jazeera was filming fighting in the southern city of Karbala where US forces are battling to put down a weeks-old rebellion by Sadr's militia. [LINK]
Scott Ritter: Iraq sarin shell is not part of a secret cache
Scott Ritter: Iraq sarin shell is not part of a secret cache
Given that the US is in the midst of a contentious presidential campaign, it's essential that accurate data about Iraq be available to the electorate. The handling of the sarin shell incident is the greatest justification yet for shutting down the ISG, and the immediate return to Iraq of UN weapons inspectors - if for no other reason than to restore a vestige of credibility to a disarmament effort that long ago lost its moral compass.
[LINK]
[LINK]
A link to transcripts of all Iraqi prisoner abuse hearings
A link to transcripts of all Iraqi prisoner abuse hearings
Wednesday, May 19:
Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing (Open Session) [LINK]
Witnesses:
-Commander, U.S. Central Command, Gen. John P. Abizaid
-Multinational Force-Iraq Commander, Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez
-Multinational Force-Iraq Deputy Commander for Detainee Operations, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller
Tuesday, May 11:
Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing (Afternoon Session) [LINK]
Witnesses:
-U.S. Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Keith B. Alexander
-Joint Staff Director for Intelligence Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Burgess Jr.
-U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Thomas J. Romig
Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing (Morning Session) [LINK]
Witnesses:
-Maj. Gen. Antonio M. Taguba, Deputy Commanding General for Support, Coalition Forces Land Component Command
-Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Stephen A. Cambone
-U.S. Central Command Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Lance L. Smith
Friday, May 7:
House Armed Services Committee Hearing [LINK]
Witnesses:
-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Richard B.Myers
-Acting Army Secretary Les Brownlee
-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker
-U.S. Central Command Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Lance L. Smith
Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing [LINK]
Witnesses:
-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Richard B. Myers
-Acting Army Secretary Les Brownlee
-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker
-U.S. Central Command Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Lance L. Smith
Wednesday, May 19:
Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing (Open Session) [LINK]
Witnesses:
-Commander, U.S. Central Command, Gen. John P. Abizaid
-Multinational Force-Iraq Commander, Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez
-Multinational Force-Iraq Deputy Commander for Detainee Operations, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller
Tuesday, May 11:
Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing (Afternoon Session) [LINK]
Witnesses:
-U.S. Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Keith B. Alexander
-Joint Staff Director for Intelligence Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Burgess Jr.
-U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Thomas J. Romig
Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing (Morning Session) [LINK]
Witnesses:
-Maj. Gen. Antonio M. Taguba, Deputy Commanding General for Support, Coalition Forces Land Component Command
-Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Stephen A. Cambone
-U.S. Central Command Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Lance L. Smith
Friday, May 7:
House Armed Services Committee Hearing [LINK]
Witnesses:
-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Richard B.Myers
-Acting Army Secretary Les Brownlee
-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker
-U.S. Central Command Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Lance L. Smith
Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing [LINK]
Witnesses:
-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Richard B. Myers
-Acting Army Secretary Les Brownlee
-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker
-U.S. Central Command Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Lance L. Smith
Why are we just now learning Berg-beheading arrests were made a week ago?
Why are we just now learning Berg-beheading arrests were made a week ago?
We should be asking why it's taken so long to learn of these arrests. Something doesn't add up here. [LINK]
Another comment- This article claims Nick Berg's body was discovered May 8. I highly suspect the White House knew all about it. If not, we must wonder why, in this age of high technology, the communication between Iraqi officials and the White House is so poor. News of the beheading didn't reach the public until the infamous al-Qaeda-linked web-video on May 11th..the day of the Abu Ghraib hearings, when the news was used to "grandstand". (You may recall Senator Pat Roberts' dramatic reading from a report of the beheading at the May 11th Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the prison scandal). Was the news withheld for the political benefit of the GOP? Why should the death of Nick Berg represent a Republican's point of view...or anyone's point of view, for that matter?
We should be asking why it's taken so long to learn of these arrests. Something doesn't add up here. [LINK]
Another comment- This article claims Nick Berg's body was discovered May 8. I highly suspect the White House knew all about it. If not, we must wonder why, in this age of high technology, the communication between Iraqi officials and the White House is so poor. News of the beheading didn't reach the public until the infamous al-Qaeda-linked web-video on May 11th..the day of the Abu Ghraib hearings, when the news was used to "grandstand". (You may recall Senator Pat Roberts' dramatic reading from a report of the beheading at the May 11th Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the prison scandal). Was the news withheld for the political benefit of the GOP? Why should the death of Nick Berg represent a Republican's point of view...or anyone's point of view, for that matter?
How "Christian" is Zionism?
How "Christian" is Zionism?
Sojourners magazine begs the question. Theological professor Leslie C. Allen contrasts the Bible's Old Testament with the New Testament interpretations, providing us with an opportunity to decide for ourselves. [LINK]
Many U.S. evangelicals seek an 'even-handed' Middle East policy. [LINK]
Some in the Religious Right call Middle East Peace efforts "Satanic heresy." Donald Wagner, a professor of religion, gives us a look at the political and theological roots of Christian Zionism - and why it puts the world at risk. [LINK]
Sojourners magazine begs the question. Theological professor Leslie C. Allen contrasts the Bible's Old Testament with the New Testament interpretations, providing us with an opportunity to decide for ourselves. [LINK]
Many U.S. evangelicals seek an 'even-handed' Middle East policy. [LINK]
Some in the Religious Right call Middle East Peace efforts "Satanic heresy." Donald Wagner, a professor of religion, gives us a look at the political and theological roots of Christian Zionism - and why it puts the world at risk. [LINK]
This Week -A Bush/Kerry Summary
This Week-
A Bush/Kerry Summary
Bush lies divide America
"I don't think it's accurate to describe America as polarized between Democrats and Republicans, or between liberals and conservatives.It's polarized between the people who believe George Bush and the people who do not.."
From: Hal Crowther/Independent Weekly
Liberals show they can work together
From: Walter Shapiro/USA Today
Where's the Compassion, Conservatives?
From: Doug Griffin/Counterbias.com
House Approves $447 Billion in Spending for Military
From: NY Times
Bush spends like a drunken sailor
From: Daily Kos
Birds of a feather...
From: Daily Kos
Bush Holds Pep Rally For GOP Members
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Historians Take Dim View Of Bush
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Memories Good times, weren't they..Mrs. Bush applauds...
From: Eschaton
Speaker Pelosi Link: "Bush is an incompetent leader...."
From: Eschaton
Tell Dan Payne Why You Hate Bush
An email from Boston Globe columnist and political consultant Dan Payne: I'm considering writing about all the reasons Bush haters feel as we do. Would love to get your favorite dislikes about Bush, personal, political or policy, large or trivial....
From: Big, Left, Outside
Odds Now Against Bush
A new strategy memo from James Carville and Stan Greenberg says "the race for president has entered a new and distinct phase with Bush not only endangered... but now with the odds against him. He is more likely to lose than win.
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Conservative Base Is Cracking
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush to GAO: Faking the news to dupe seniors is wrong?
From: Kicking Ass
'Let America Be America Again'
The Wall Street Journal reports today (paid subscription only, unfortunately) that Kerry is trying out a new campaign theme: "Let America Be America Again." Poetry fans will remember that as the title of a Langston Hughes poem. ...
From: Change for America
Dead Heat In Florida
President Bush and Sen. John Kerry "remain tied among likely voters in Florida," according to a new American Research Group poll.
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush Leads in the South
An Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll looked at Southerners' voting intentions and found that, if the election were held today, President Bush would beat Sen. John Kerry by 15 points.
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Kerry Meets Nader
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush World
New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd is publishing her first book, according to a press release. Bushworld: Enter at Your Own Risk
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Rowland Bumped By Bush Campaign
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Iraq: Nick Berg Met with 'Shady' Iraqi
*who appeared frequently on major media outlets like Fox News Channel calling for the military ouster of Saddam Hussein
From: Philadelphia Inquirer
Kerry Has Small Lead Over Bush In New Jersey
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Ground Zero volunteers pay for Bush's lie
From: Kicking Ass
Kerry Leads In Web Traffic
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Hello, Kettle? It's Pot Speaking.
President Bush called on Israel on Wednesday to exercise restraint in Gaza and to respect "innocent life" after Israeli tanks and helicopters fired on protesters...
From: Change for America
Grand Old Petroleum
The price of gas is going up, up, up, and Bush is doing nothing — despite his campaign promises. From: Kicking Ass
Compare and Contrast
From: Change for America
Bush Leads In Texas
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush's Leadership Style Questioned
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
The Army Brought Down McCarthy, Will It Bring Down Bush?
The infamous Senator Joe McCarthy rode roughshod over every American institution during his "Red Witch Hunt" until, in his ignorant arrogance, he went after the U. S. Army...
From: The LongBow Papers
Edwards Could Tip North Carolina For Kerry
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Do You Think Dubya Has The Smarts To Know It's Endgame?
From: The LongBow Papers
Truth in the NYT Tee Hee
From: Eschaton
Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them
Locked in Abu Ghraib The prison scandal keeps getting worse for the Bush administration.The White House is about to get hit by the biggest tsunami since the Iran-Contra affair, maybe since Watergate.
From: Prometheus 6
Holy sh*t-An e-mail we weren't meant to see
That was not an exclamation of surprise. It was a description of the situation. Bush White House checked with rapture Christians before latest Israel move..
From: Prometheus 6
Kerry Still Battles Kucinich
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
The Timken Tall Tale
Ripping off CAP:On 4/23/03 President Bush visited the Timken Company...
From: Daily Kos
Dubya, The Wastrel Son
I could not pass up blogging Paul Krugman's column in today's The New York Times if for no other reason than its title, "The Wastrel Son." You get three guesses as to which wastrel son he's writing about, and the first two don't count.
From: The LongBow Papers
Payback Time For Rumsfeld
UPI has bad news for Bush adminstration officials who have tried "to contain the Iraq prison torture scandal and limit the blame to a handful of enlisted soldiers and immediate senior officers."
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Kerry Veep Pick Could Come Shortly
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush Leads In Negative Ads
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Kerry's Iraq Problem
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush praises activist judges
From: Daily Kos
A Bush/Kerry Summary
Bush lies divide America
"I don't think it's accurate to describe America as polarized between Democrats and Republicans, or between liberals and conservatives.It's polarized between the people who believe George Bush and the people who do not.."
From: Hal Crowther/Independent Weekly
Liberals show they can work together
From: Walter Shapiro/USA Today
Where's the Compassion, Conservatives?
From: Doug Griffin/Counterbias.com
House Approves $447 Billion in Spending for Military
From: NY Times
Bush spends like a drunken sailor
From: Daily Kos
Birds of a feather...
From: Daily Kos
Bush Holds Pep Rally For GOP Members
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Historians Take Dim View Of Bush
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Memories Good times, weren't they..Mrs. Bush applauds...
From: Eschaton
Speaker Pelosi Link: "Bush is an incompetent leader...."
From: Eschaton
Tell Dan Payne Why You Hate Bush
An email from Boston Globe columnist and political consultant Dan Payne: I'm considering writing about all the reasons Bush haters feel as we do. Would love to get your favorite dislikes about Bush, personal, political or policy, large or trivial....
From: Big, Left, Outside
Odds Now Against Bush
A new strategy memo from James Carville and Stan Greenberg says "the race for president has entered a new and distinct phase with Bush not only endangered... but now with the odds against him. He is more likely to lose than win.
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Conservative Base Is Cracking
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush to GAO: Faking the news to dupe seniors is wrong?
From: Kicking Ass
'Let America Be America Again'
The Wall Street Journal reports today (paid subscription only, unfortunately) that Kerry is trying out a new campaign theme: "Let America Be America Again." Poetry fans will remember that as the title of a Langston Hughes poem. ...
From: Change for America
Dead Heat In Florida
President Bush and Sen. John Kerry "remain tied among likely voters in Florida," according to a new American Research Group poll.
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush Leads in the South
An Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll looked at Southerners' voting intentions and found that, if the election were held today, President Bush would beat Sen. John Kerry by 15 points.
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Kerry Meets Nader
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush World
New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd is publishing her first book, according to a press release. Bushworld: Enter at Your Own Risk
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Rowland Bumped By Bush Campaign
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Iraq: Nick Berg Met with 'Shady' Iraqi
*who appeared frequently on major media outlets like Fox News Channel calling for the military ouster of Saddam Hussein
From: Philadelphia Inquirer
Kerry Has Small Lead Over Bush In New Jersey
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Ground Zero volunteers pay for Bush's lie
From: Kicking Ass
Kerry Leads In Web Traffic
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Hello, Kettle? It's Pot Speaking.
President Bush called on Israel on Wednesday to exercise restraint in Gaza and to respect "innocent life" after Israeli tanks and helicopters fired on protesters...
From: Change for America
Grand Old Petroleum
The price of gas is going up, up, up, and Bush is doing nothing — despite his campaign promises. From: Kicking Ass
Compare and Contrast
From: Change for America
Bush Leads In Texas
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush's Leadership Style Questioned
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
The Army Brought Down McCarthy, Will It Bring Down Bush?
The infamous Senator Joe McCarthy rode roughshod over every American institution during his "Red Witch Hunt" until, in his ignorant arrogance, he went after the U. S. Army...
From: The LongBow Papers
Edwards Could Tip North Carolina For Kerry
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Do You Think Dubya Has The Smarts To Know It's Endgame?
From: The LongBow Papers
Truth in the NYT Tee Hee
From: Eschaton
Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them
Locked in Abu Ghraib The prison scandal keeps getting worse for the Bush administration.The White House is about to get hit by the biggest tsunami since the Iran-Contra affair, maybe since Watergate.
From: Prometheus 6
Holy sh*t-An e-mail we weren't meant to see
That was not an exclamation of surprise. It was a description of the situation. Bush White House checked with rapture Christians before latest Israel move..
From: Prometheus 6
Kerry Still Battles Kucinich
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
The Timken Tall Tale
Ripping off CAP:On 4/23/03 President Bush visited the Timken Company...
From: Daily Kos
Dubya, The Wastrel Son
I could not pass up blogging Paul Krugman's column in today's The New York Times if for no other reason than its title, "The Wastrel Son." You get three guesses as to which wastrel son he's writing about, and the first two don't count.
From: The LongBow Papers
Payback Time For Rumsfeld
UPI has bad news for Bush adminstration officials who have tried "to contain the Iraq prison torture scandal and limit the blame to a handful of enlisted soldiers and immediate senior officers."
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Kerry Veep Pick Could Come Shortly
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush Leads In Negative Ads
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Kerry's Iraq Problem
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush praises activist judges
From: Daily Kos
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