Bush Lied to Us About Iraq War

Bush Lied to Us About Iraq War

"..it comes as no surprise to learn that the Bush administration intentionally misled the U.S. public and the world and operated with tremendous bad faith when it said it was trying to do everything it could to avoid war. And what we have here is really solid documentation that backs that up."

- Jeremy Scahill, producer and correspondent for Democracy Now!, who has an article at The Nation magazine's website, called "The Other Bomb Drops: How Bush Began the Iraq Invasion Before He Went to Congress or the U.N."

The Bush administration dropped all of the rhetoric about the no-fly zones having something to do with defending Shiites or Kurds. They used them, instead,to systematically and preemptively degrade Iraq's ability to defend itself, not from an uprising of Shiites or Kurds, but from the invasion of a foreign army. The Downing Street Memo proves that the United States was not just planning and preparing for war, but was actively carrying out air strikes in support of this war and that the invasion had begun already when the British had the "Downing Street" meeting.

See Sen. Ted Kennedy's comments today at Daily Kos. He has a letter of petition for you to sign.

America, you totally got punk'd. Only this time, I don't hear anyone laughing.

bba
downing street memo

Find a meaningful job while making the world a better place

Find a meaningful job while making the world a better place
Peter Blanchard offers you ideas on how and where to find work that helps, rather than hurts the world's environment and the interests of peace, democracy, community and sustainability.

Labor in Focus

Labor in Focus

In the June edition of Monthly Review there is an excellent article on the issue of Labor with suggestions as to how workers, who are regrouping and re-strategizing, can develop a local power base of the movement.

History bears powerful witness to the need for a radical reorientation of the world’s labor movements, movements with principles like those enumerated by U.S. Labor Against the War.

In TNR, Joseph Braude has written about "Why the Gulf States Need Labor Unions."

"Thomas Friedman recently dubbed the emirate of Dubai "an amazing city-state on the Gulf that is becoming the Singapore of the Arab East," and told NPR's Terry Gross that the Palestinians should emulate it...These sentiments sound nice. But they are increasingly out of touch with reality...there is growing political unrest in Gulf capitals, too. Some of it takes the form of Al Qaeda-style violence, once exclusive to Saudi Arabia but now common in Kuwait and cropping up in Qatar as well. But there's another form of discontent that's ubiquitous in the Arabian desert--even amid the shimmering skyscrapers of Friedman's "amazing city-state on the Gulf": The appalling treatment of workers in these countries has spawned gutsy labor movements, which are agitating for basic freedoms of association and collective bargaining..

..the United States, apparently intoxicated by the promise of free trade with Gulf states, has not done enough to support them. This is too bad--not only because the groups are fighting for American values such as freedom and social justice, but also because many of the Gulf's labor leaders happen to be pro-Western and anti-Islamist."

MSM Shirking Their Duty

MSM Shirking Their Duty

The Sun-Sentinel printed a letter to the editor by Guy D. Boero of Boca raton, FL. It goes like this:

The recent revelation of Mark Felt as "Deep Throat" has made me long for the days of true investigative journalism.
Men such as Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, along with Daniel Ellsberg, helped to expose the corruption and deceit that led us to Watergate and Vietnam.
Their published works were widely read by the young people of that day and helped shape the opinions that many of that generation have of their government today.

While it's true that we still have many fine journalists who feel it's important to report our government's misdeeds, most of this material seems to be in the form of books or subscription periodicals.
Our mainstream media, both print and broadcast, appear to be more interested in tawdry sex scandals or the latest celebrity arrest.
Meanwhile, serious issues are shoved off on the cable networks, which are more about opinion than news and seem to favor one political party over the other.

We are now into our third year fighting in Iraq.

While the American body count rises and the Bush administration refuses to even discuss a withdrawal time, the Downing Street memo raises the question that our president may have lied to us about weapons of mass destruction so he could sell this war to the American people.
Will this, along with all the other known miscalculations and blunders in Iraq, finally get the attention of the mainstream media?

For the sake of our nation, it better.

D Day June 6, 1944

photo credit: Roanoke.com
D-Day June 6, 1944

"About ten of us were crossing along the edge of a field when we heard sniper bullets whiz by. We all fell to the ground. As we lay there hugging the earth, that we might escape shrapnel from shell fire and bullets from sniper's guns, the birds were singing beautifully in the trees close by. As I lay there listening I thought of the awfulness of it all; the birds were singing and we Human Beings were trying to kill each other. We are the greatest of God's creation, made in the image of God, and here human blood was being spilt - everywhere."

--from a letter by 2nd Lieutenant Burkhalter, written to his wife Mabel shortly after the Normandy invasion.

Blogger's Fable Graces Third Estate Sunday

Blogger's Fable Graces Third Estate Sunday

"The world has an Atrios and a Kos. Why would they want a copy?"

"Yeah," said Rebecca, "Outside of Creed, has a sound alike ever really made much of an impact?"

"Harsh but true," laughed Jess. "There's only one Pearl Jam!"

"So be yourself," Ty offered. "And if you're speaking your truth, people will listen."

- From 'Once more into the blog world'

Third Estate Sunday Review incorporates one of my favorite songs by Anais Mitchell in a new blog fable that rivals Ezra's mystical visitation with the angel Uriel. Who knows? Perhaps even the young Staussian with the decent heart and open mind might snatch poor Leo out of the wicked harpy-clutches of Midge and wipe the wide shit-eating grin off the face of Bill. But, really, you crazy kids - what a killer soundtrack!

"Ode to Tom DeLay" - written by Jim, Dona, Jess, Ty, Ava, Rebecca, Fodling Star, Betty, Kat, and C.I?

I bow down to you.

My additional lyrical advice to New Blogger would be:



don't Take Any Wooden Nickels
when You Sell Your Soul
a Devil Of A Time Awaits You
when The Party's Over
you're On Your Own

- From the song by the Eels' Mark Oliver Everett, Daisies of the Galaxy

SCRUTINY HOOLIGANS' 1ST BLOGIVERSARY!

IT'S SCRUTINY HOOLIGANS' 1ST BLOGIVERSARY!

HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY, YOUSE GUYS!

Al Sadr: Iraq Election Legitimized US Occupation

Al Sadr: Iraq Election Legitimized US Occupation

Muqtada al-Sadr criticized the desecration of the Quran by interrogators and guards at the Guantanamo Bay, telling The Associated Press their action was criminal. He promised, at least for now, to stay away from Iraqi politics as long as U.S. troops remain, and he condemned senior Shiite leaders and the Iraqi government for embracing this year's elections that "legitimized the occupation." Al-Sadr indirectly criticized Iraq's Shiite spiritual leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, for promoting the process that led to formation of the Shiite-led government.

This conflicts with information from a recent column by Hamza Hendawi where it was said:

"Since the fighting, al-Sadr has rebuilt ties with Iraq's largest Shiite party, after months of tension threatened to escalate into violence. His aides have been mediating between a Shiite militia and a Sunni group after they exchanged charges of involvement in the killing of each other's clerics."

I would think that the U.S. would prefer, due to his popularity with the people, that al Sadr would stay involved in the Democratic process. This is yet another piece of dark news coming from Iraq.

Bill Moyers Gives Us a Reading Assignment

"A few weeks ago my colleague Charlie Rose put a question to the new president of CNN, Jonathan Klein. He asked: Could there ever be a successful progressive version of Fox News Channel? Klein didn't think so. He said Fox appeals to "mostly angry white men" while liberals - "you know, they don't get too worked up about anything."

Well, here's something to get worked up about....."

-- Bill Moyers, from his June 3rd speech at the Take Back America conference in Washington, D.C

Bill Moyers Gives Us a Reading Assignment
...and Marching Orders

Bill Moyers insists that writing the history of the Revolution is now up to all of us, and we should start by putting the soon-to-be released book "Thomas Paine and the Promise of America," by Harvey Kaye, on this summer's reading list.

Moyers adds:

You must be like the Irishman coming upon a street brawl who yells in a loud voice: "Is this a private fight, or can anyone get in it?" Not waiting, he wades in.

Wade in! Go home and tell the truth to your neighbors and fight the corruption of the system. But it's not enough just to say how bad the others are. You owe your opponents the compliment of a good argument. Come up with fresh ideas to make capitalism work for all. Ask entrepreneurs to join you - they know how to make things happen. Show us a new vision of globalization with a conscience. Stand up for working people and people in the middle and people who can't stand on their own. Be not cowed, intimidated, or frightened - you may be on the losing side of the moment, as the early progressives were, but you're on the winning side of history.

John Edwards Talks About the Dean "Dust-Up"

"Howard and I know that these are the wrong choices for America. We won’t always use the same words. But we will always fight the same fight: for the dignity, the respect, and the rights of those who built this country, the working people in America." - John Edwards

John Edwards Talks About the Fabricated "Dean Dust-Up"

CANDY CROWLEY/CNN: This is one of those stories we will not let go easily. We will have much more on Howard Dean's war of words coming up in the show.... - blah-blah-blah!

Read Sen. Edwards' statement here. I tried to respond, but I guess I hit my quota of posts there at One America for today. I'm glad Sen. Edwards spoke up about the matter with such clarity. Perhaps now we can move on - get away from this trivial melodrama - and perhaps Candy Crowley and Paul Begala can stop yap-yap-yapping and talk about truly relevant issues.

If anyone in the Democratic party lets something like this divide us, the GOP wins. (Why does the GOP always win?)

We will lose as long as we get caught up in worrying about the media and the sensationalist dirt they drum up. We should never treat a triviality as if it were a disaster. Howard Dean should be wholly supported as Chair, even if a statement he makes at a progressive convention is isolated and magnified by a monkey press.
SEE MY COMMENT AT DAILY KOS.

Markos put a great headline on his post about the issue: Edwards: 'Dean was right'.

Sen. Edwards explains himself well. He is smart to not freak out over this matter, and to earnestly lay out his own truth. Isn't it wisest to get it straight from the horse's mouth? Will Candy Crowley mention this today? If she does, I'll be impressed. Will Sen. Edwards be ignored beacuse his statement can't get a cheap thrill from the CNN audience? We'll see.

________

Democracy Cell Project:
Casey Meets John


photo: Democracy Cell Project

Don't miss Casey Morris' blog entry titled "Who Are the Working Poor?"

"What is the role of the citizen? Open your eyes to the poor in your community. Make them visible to yourself and those around you. Find out what resources are available in your neighborhood and then go help. Donate time, money, food, whatever you can.
Make the issue of poverty in America part of your life. And then harangue your Congressperson until it's a part of his/her daily life, too. Don't accept politicians who speak of Jesus on the one hand, and then ignore the blessed poor on the other hand.."

President 2008

Juan Cole Agrees With Biden

Juan Cole Agrees With Biden

Close down Guantanamo. Cole's reasons differ from Biden's. He says:

"The main reason is that the Bush Administration established the prison at Guantanamo in hopes of gutting the Bill of Rights...Guantanamo Prison should be closed because it was conceived as the beginning of the end of the American Republic."

Tarheel Tavern Is Open

Tarheel Tavern Is Open

This Week’s Tarheel Tavern:
Aliens Invade The Blogosphere!

Aliens have invaded the blogosphere! I'd say it isn't pretty - but Billy, in his inimitable way, has made it sound entirely acceptable - maybe even fun!

2005 - The Alien's Blog Odyssey

2005 - The Alien's Blog Odyssey





Note: I wrote this poem for this weekend's Tar Heel Tavern. It's about my recent trip to Greensboro. This week's host is Billy Jones, and I wrote the poem in honor of Billy's love for poetry. This weekend's Tar Heel Tavern theme is: "Aliens Invade The Blogosphere." I hope you'll enjoy it. - Jude

____



Eighteen hours on the bus, she started thinking she'd go insane
For just a few bucks more, she could have had her ass on a plane
Then again, thought she, look on the sunny side
Where else can you sit all day with a fellow who smells like something that died?





Thus, the alien came to Blogsboro with the hope of a Meet-Up grande
For this, she'd traveled with grimy folk from up the Northern land
She tells the tale from memory, she truly had some fun
Although she had to leave the South without meeting Mr. Sun.



photo credit: Yes Weekly



Roch was there to greet her - Greensboro101 in the flesh
He introduced her to the crowd whose love for blogging has caused them to mesh
Michael stopped to say "hello" and Patrick Eakes did, too
Along with David, Chewie, Stewart, Ben and Sue



Billy told her all about the Meet-Ups he has hosted
Lewis has his Barbershop to keep the blogworld
posted
Brian was there to write about the things that made them tick
While Lee took their photos with a focus and a click



Jerry shared his passion for blogging and VFW proses
Fecund found himself unworthy to decipher the word of Moses
Ron SAT down to tell her how to blog and make a buck
Jay told her he'd planned to write her something that didn't suck



photo: NorthCarolina.com


She visited Ross and Tara Sue at Revolution Mill
She went, next day, to lunch with Bora and Dave at Chapel Hill
The alien had a marvelous time, 18 hours on a bus was - well - almost worth it
When it comes to pioneering blog communes, who'd have known Greensboro would be the place to birth it?


-Jude

Today: Downing Street Memo to be Topic of Discussion on CSPAN

Sat, June 4- Downing Street Memo to be Topic of Discussion on CSPAN

What Can you Do? See HERE.

BBA-Downing Street Memo-BBA

No Need to Click Here - I'm just claiming my feed at Feedster feedster:321e3523551537f82c0fa7def8238be0

A summary of my articles

A summary of my articles:
*I've been busy these past few days.

Downing Street Memo - Conyers Receives 100K Signatures
It has been announced (on Air America radio) that Congressman John Conyers' letter has received his goal of 100,000 signatures in 3 days. He's upped the goal to 250,000. We can do that.

TAR HEEL TAVERN
May 28th Edition

Blog Carnivals
posted on June 03, 2005 04:16:00 pm
Blog Carnivals At Idea Consultants, Bora Zivkovic has posted an excellent piece on Blog Carnivals and the Future of Journalism.
Rushdoony - Ayatollah of Holy Rollers
posted on June 03, 2005 04:05:00 pm

Rushdoony - Ayatollah of Holy Rollers Don't miss Steve Weissman's series on "America's Religious Right - Saints or Subversives?" The last entry in the series is Part V: The Ayatollah of Holy Rollers Past articles in the series: - Part I: The Lure of Christian Nationalism - Part II: Hang Ten and Fight! - Part III: A Deadly Culture of Life - Part IV: Pie in the Sky
Book review: The New American Militarism
posted on June 03, 2005 01:44:00 pm

Book review: The New American Militarism John at Aaargghhh!Blog has done a thorough job of reviewing "The New American Militarism" by Andrew Bacevich. The thing that disturbs me most is something Bacevich mentions in his book - and something that I have long realized - that there is a definite and strong political affinity between the neoCons, the Bush administration, and Evangelical
After Downing Street - Updates
posted on June 03, 2005 10:54:00 am

After Downing Street - Updates 86,000 Signatures and Counting By Congressman John Conyers Late last week Congressman Conyers asked for 100,000 signatures on a letter to President Bush, and said he would deliver it personally to the President. As of Thursday afternoon, he had collected 86,000 signatures. Let's make sure we put it over the 100,000 mark today! Sent this to all of your
John Edwards: The Third Podcast
posted on June 02, 2005 03:45:00 pm

John Edwards: The Third Podcast by Jude Nagurney Camwell Washington "insiders" are talking about John Edwards, and so are his grassroots supporters. John and Elizabeth have taken time from their busy schedules to talk a bit about themselves, so you won't have to consult the "insiders" in order to find out what's happening in their public and private lives. Their third podcast is available for

My Right to Rant: Jeff Jacoby is Full of Crap
posted on June 02, 2005 01:19:00 pm
My Right to Rant: Jeff Jacoby is Full of Crap Can't the Boston Globe at least get a reasonably honest Conservative to write for them? I think this is the most unfair (and untrue) statement I've ever heard. "..there is a difference. Nixon really did a face an overwhelmingly hostile press corps. Kerry, Gore, and Clinton, by contrast, benefit from a news media that is overwhelmingly liberal,

The I-Word
posted on June 02, 2005 12:45:00 pm
The I-Word The Downing Street memo is causing the I-Word to be brought up quite a bit lately. The Blogworld is abuzz. In an editorial, The National Catholic Reporter states:"In the rush to war, the memo shows, both Britain and the United States trampled international law ostensibly on the way to establishing the rule of law elsewhere." BBA

59 Bloggers
posted on June 02, 2005 10:03:00 am
59 Bloggers First there was Blogumentary, by Chuck Olsen. Now, there will be 59 Bloggers. (50 have been chosen - nine slots still remain undecided).
Time Magazine Sucked In by Blogebrity?
posted on June 02, 2005 09:26:00 am

Time Magazine Sucked In by Blogebrity? From Steve Rubel: Blogebrity Fools Time Magazine Time magazine has a blurb on Blogebrity in this week's Blogwatch column that makes it all seem very real. Amazingly, they seemed to neglect that it was all part of a big viral marketing campaign. Hey. some are even calling it a hoax. Did Time drop the ball here?I've got to admit, it's easy, at first glance,

Inauguration Day 2005
posted on June 02, 2005 02:30:00 am
Sorry - it takes me forever nowadays to get my photos developed. These were taken at President Bush's inauguration in January, 2005. The young man in the second photo, who happens to be my son, is the same as the one in the photo directly above. Only the President was different then. Perhaps you can spot him in this photo (along with another person who will more than likely run for

Take Back Christ for Christianity - Jacksonville Declaration
Have you seen the "Jacksonville Declaration"? From The Christian Alliance For Progress: Sign the Jacksonville Declaration Help make justice and compassion the hallmarks of our country. Add your signature to this letter. Let the Political and Church Leaders of the Religious Right know they do not speak for you. Help them hear a different understanding of Christian values. Add your voice

A Primer on American Interrogation and Torture
"The Torture Feature" is an amazing creation by Slate writers Emily Bazelon, Phillip Carter, and Dahlia Lithwick. It includes an Introduction: "What Is Torture? - A Primer on American Interrogation".

Jim, Dona, Jess, Ty, and "Ava"
Listen to these kids. They're wise beyond their years. I couldn't look Jim, Dona, Jess, Ty, or "Ava" in the eye and tell them I think they're wrong. These kids already have more common sense and maturity in their fingertips than some MSM reporters have in the entirety of their hollow skulls

John Edwards to Co-Chair Council Task Force on Russian-American Relations
John Edwards and Jack Kemp will co-chair the Council on Foreign Relations' new Independent Task Force. They will review current U.S. policy toward Russia and make recommendations on future policy - from global security to Russia's evolution as a democratic state.

TPM Cafe
TPM Cafe is up and running. Instruction Manual HERE.

Don't Look Back, Muscle Jesus!
An American Catholic's Reflections on Pastor Ted and his anti-Catholicism

Memorial Day Parade, Camillus, N.Y.
Monday, May 30, 2005
"To honor them, why speak of duty or the will of governments?
Think first of love each time you tell their story.
It gives their sacrifice a name and takes from war its glory."
- Sam Hazo (Real Audio)

Memorial Day - Fair and Balanced
Fox News tells us, by it's slogan (which, ironically, they betray every day), that we should be fair and balanced. Memorial Day is approaching.
With the world as it stands today, I wanted to find a way to be Fair and Balanced about the American Holiday's observation. I have chosen to honor soldiers' sacrifices in the face of my bitter and realistic heartbreak over our current foreign policy.

John Edwards: The Four Pillars to Develop A Just New World
Re:Remarks By John Edwards
London School of Economics
May 25, 2005
Audio (Podcast411)
text (One America)

Bora and Me/Chapel Hill

I went to Blogsboro
Oh, yes, there's something definitely happening in Blogsboro. Yes Weekly's Editor Brian Clarey and photographer Lee Adams have done a fantastic job of helping you to envision the social (blogging) scene at Panera's on Lawndale last Wenesday night. It was a warm and welcoming group on a warm Spring evening.
...and all I got was this lousy t-shirt - er - my picture on the front cover!

Downing Street Memo - Conyers Receives 100K Signatures

Downing Street Memo - Conyers Receives 100K Signatures
It has been announced (on Air America radio) that Congressman John Conyers' letter has received his goal of 100,000 signatures in 3 days. He's upped the goal to 250,000.

We can do that.
BBA

Blog Carnivals

Blog Carnivals
At Idea Consultants, Bora Zivkovic has posted an excellent piece on Blog Carnivals and the Future of Journalism.

Rushdoony - Ayatollah of Holy Rollers

Rushdoony - Ayatollah of Holy Rollers
Don't miss Steve Weissman's series on "America's Religious Right - Saints or Subversives?"

The last entry in the series is Part V: The Ayatollah of Holy Rollers

Past articles in the series:
- Part I: The Lure of Christian Nationalism
- Part II: Hang Ten and Fight!
- Part III: A Deadly Culture of Life
- Part IV: Pie in the Sky

Book review: The New American Militarism

Book review: The New American Militarism

John at Aaargghhh!Blog has done a thorough job of reviewing "The New American Militarism" by Andrew Bacevich.

The thing that disturbs me most is something Bacevich mentions in his book - and something that I have long realized - that there is a definite and strong political affinity between the neoCons, the Bush administration, and Evangelical Christian leadership. John describes it as the Military being used as "Warrior Monks", which is a very, very dangerous way to abuse our Military. Evangelical Christians have abandoned their traditional role in society and have come to Crusader-like views - not dissimilar to the neocons.

Watch out for these "Patriot Pastors". I've seen enough misuse of our fine men and women in the Military and I plan to fight back with all my strength against these wolves in sheep's clothing who infiltrate our American churches with the not-too-secret hope of increasing their bloody Crusade.

I am a Patriot - and I will not stand and watch while troops are sent to spread and/or protect the word of Jesus Christ. It isn't their job. I'm not one of those people who will forget that I am free and powerful because my nation has been kept free and powerful by the support of our Armed Forces.

Because I have a grateful heart and a powerful voice, I'll use it to help keep the Armed Forces strong, which means pointing out public abuse, governmental abuse, and even intramilitary abuse of troops when I see it. James (Mullah) Dobson and Ted (Pastor Ted) Haggard and their gang of Theocrats must keep their hands off those who make the plans for our fighting forces. Neocons are pushing the envelope, too. They've come too close to espionage on behalf of Israel to cause me to trust them as far as I can throw them.

If it's blood for oil and a matter of survival, we're always going to have to deal with the fact that war will come. The Far Right lunatics of the Evangelical Christian Leadership must get the hell out of the Oval Office and the Pentagon, because they have no place in deciding why we war. Iraq carries the stench of the Far Right Evangelical Christian involvement, and it's tainted the way the Bush administration is viewed by millions of Americans because of it. Not only that, it has tainted Christianity itself.

Thanks again to John for the interesting review.