The National Security Archive released a report Friday Aug. 22, 2008 that sheds even more light on the premeditated lying and deception that took the United States to war in Iraq. The findings are based on new evidence compiled by Dr. John Prados and published by the National Security Archive. See "White Paper" Drafted before NIE even Requested , "Scoop" Independent News, Aug. 24, 2008.
Most notably, Prados shows the depth of the deception perpetrated against citizens and Congress regarding the alleged threat to U.S. security posed by Iraq. It had appeared that the White House rewrote the Oct. 1, 2002 National Intelligence Estimate and then issued that doctored report to Congress on Oct. 4, 2002. Prados reveals convincing evidence that the Oct. 4 White Paper had already been written by July 2002. He shows that it was only slightly altered after the final NIE arrived. This White Paper served as the basis for the war.
The devastating attack of 9/11 conferred unprecedented popularity on the Bush administration. This was more a reflection of the strong desire for national unity in the wake of a tragedy than an endorsement of Bush policies.
After the attack, there was a frantic effort inside the administration to show a major success in their newly proclaimed war on terror. The administration knew what the public didn't: Far from being surprised by airplanes used as weapons, they'd had a series of warnings from intelligence sources that commercial airplanes were indeed the next weapon of choice by terrorists. Once that information became public, the Bush administration would need something more to boost its image.
In addition to warnings on the use of airplanes, the administration received at least 28 advanced intelligence warnings prior to 9/11. Was there more damaging information and analysis in the files of the agencies and individuals involved? Read More »
On March 31st, we published an article entitled Russian Intelligence Services State US Is Preparing For Attack On Iran. We were not the first to break the story, and in fact, were behind the curve and found the story posted on the Digg Community. The article was well received, however, we noticed that it was being read by an enormous amount of state governmental agencies as well as a “who’s who” of federal entities - many of whom followed every link and spent a substantial amount of time reading, and then making return visits to the same article. It ls unconscionable that our Mainstream News Media hasn’t followed-up on and reported facts that indicate the United States is on a clear path to war with Iran:
On April the 2nd, and again on April the 5th, Russian sources reported the US was gong to strike Iran within two (2) weeks, yet not a word is mentioned on the MSM or in the Halls of Congress:
Russia ‘Alarmed’ As US Readies April Nuclear Attack On Iran
By News Director on April 5th, 2008
Russian Foreign Ministry Officials are reported to be ‘alarmed’ today over a ‘presentation’ made by the United States War Leaders to President Putin at this weeks NATO summit in Romania and which details the Americans plan to begin a nuclear attack against Iran’s atomic facilities in the next two weeks.
Most disturbing of these reports, according to Foreign Ministry Analysts, are the United States ‘offers and threats’ towards Russia to ‘remain neutral’ in this conflict or face the combined weight of the American and EU central banks deliberate collapsing of the Western banking system, and US dollar, and which is estimated will cause the loss of nearly $800 billion of Russian foreign reserves.
To the ‘offers’ presented to President Putin for keeping Russia out of this war, these reports continue, will be NATO’s rejection of Ukraine and Georgia membership into the Western Military Alliance and the ending of the planned US Missile Shield being planned for Poland and the Czech Republic. MUCH MORE
The same information was reported on April 2nd at “War In Iraq”
The MSM is concentrating on the upcoming November elections and the economy in the US - essentially using it as cover for failing to warn us of an impending attack against Iran. When we are faced with an issue that affects every American here and abroad, it’s time to bombard the MSM with emails, letters to the various editors, and calls to Congress to demand answers. On an issue this serious, the least the MSM could do is to try and debunk what is stated on the news in other countries - tell us why it’s not a problem, and assure us that our military isn’t readying themselves to attack Iran. If Russia is stating that they have evidence an attack on Iran is imminent, I believe that it is not only newsworthy, but to ignore a threat as dire as an attack that could be a precursor to WW III, if the MSM refuse to uphold their responsibility to warn the people, they are as guilty as those who make the final decision to begin the attack.
I expected an answer, either vague or an outright denial from the MSM or Congress itself, similar to the response Congress made when thousands of Americans jammed-up their phones in regard S 1959; with the substantiation that was offered on this issue, it’s fair to say many Americans were making calls and demanding answers, none which I expected until the pressure began to mount-up - and for the first time, I was actually shocked when exactly the opposite occurred:
Conyers: “If Bush Goes Into Iran, He Should Be Impeached”
John Conyers just finished up a panel with John Cole and Christy Hardin Smith at Take Back America with words that were heartening to everyone made just a wee bit uneasy by the recent retirement of Admiral Fallon and the implications it might have for war with Iran:
“If Bush Goes Into Iran, He Should Be Impeached,” said Conyers. (Emphasis added.)
Conyers also said that with regard to FISA, the House was going into conference with the Senate. That the Senate wanted to give retroactive immunity to the telecoms, and that the House is saying “let a judge decide.” But he also made the point that it wasn’t just the Republicans who were the problem: LINK
After reading the above statement, it’s obvious that it isn’t just “conspiracy theorists” who believe Bush/Cheney are readying an attack against Iran. The timing of Mr. Conyer’s statement is remarkable, and while I believe his intentions are good - he, as well as the rest of the country need to wake-up and understand that if we attack Iran - soon thereafter the United States will fall under martial law! How will you impeach Bush when he assumes control of “all aspects of the government?” This is one time that Congress and the American people won’t get a second chance - and it’s up to us to apply the pressure to ensure that each and every member of Congress hears us loud and clear!
Why do I “assume” that an attack against Iran will be a precursor to Martial Law? Actually, when we look to past news reports and our own assessment of Iran’s “QUDS Force” - it’s an event that anyone in possession of the facts would suspect and expect to occur soon after Iran is attacked by the United States and/or Israel. The QUDS Force, which is Iran’s version of our own Special Forces, is a highly trained group of Iran’s most elite fighters - and some of them are already in the United States!
In 2006, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made this statement, and while he didn’t elaborate, US military analysts have indicated Iran’s QUDS force are capable of inflicting serious attacks on the continental United States. Obviously, to carry out attacks within our own borders would indicate the QUDS force has built-up it’s presence within our country, and unfortunately, there is evidence their efforts to infiltrate the United States have been successful:
AP: Iran threatens U.S. with harm & pain
By GEORGE JAHN, Associated Press Writer Wednesday, March 08, 2006
VIENNA, Austria - Iran threatened the United States with “harm and pain” Wednesday for its role in hauling Tehran before the U.N. Security Council over its nuclear program.
Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, waves to supporters in western of Iran, Wednesday, March. 8, 2006. Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that Iran has made its decision to pursue a peaceful nuclear program and the world has to give in to Iran’s right for uranium enrichment. Ahmadienjad was apparently referring to the United States which has rejected a Russian proposal to allow Iran carry out research-scale uranium enrichment in return for suspension of large-scale enrichment. LINK
Again, I’m citing a report from 2006, and since then, our relationship with Iran has deteriorated dramatically. Ahmadinejad has made several threats against the United States based on Bush and Cheney’s constant rhetoric - threats which several military analysts take seriously. Even worse, there is now substantial evidence that the QUDS force has already successfully entered the United States, and no one is aware of what they brought with them to sabotage our country.
As Immigration Bill Stalls, U.S. Border Invites Terrorists
Along with Massachusetts Democrat Ted Kennedy, the Arizona Republican co-sponsored immigration legislation currently stalled in the Senate. McCain should recognize that without a barrier or fence, the U.S./Mexican frontier will keep welcoming Islamic extremists pledged to America’s doom.
This is not hypothetical. (Emphasis added.)
“Members of Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based terrorist organization, have already entered the United States across our southwest border,” declares “A Line in the Sand,” a January report of the House Homeland Security subcommittee on Investigations, then-chaired by Texas Republican Michael McCaul.
The study cites FBI Director Robert Mueller’s March 2005 congressional testimony confirming that, “there are individuals from countries with known al-Qaeda connections who are changing their Islamic surnames to Hispanic-sounding names and obtaining false Hispanic identities, learning to speak Spanish, and pretending to be Hispanic immigrants.” (Emphasis added.)
Zapata County, Texas Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez told House members last July: “If smugglers can bring in tons of marijuana and cocaine at one time and can smuggle 20 to 30 persons at one time, one can just imagine how easy it would be to bring in two or three terrorists or their weapons of mass destruction across the river and not be detected.” MORE
You may ask yourselves what damage a few, or maybe even hundreds of QUDS force operatives in the United could inflict upon our country? Iran is a closed society, and while Bush and Cheney are constantly harping on Iran’s nuclear program, there are also reports that Iran is capable of and may be in possession of sophisticated biological weapons. A report from 1996 stated that Iran would be able to deliver biological agents via their military in approximately 10 years, which has already passed. There isn’t a lot of information available to ascertain whether or not Iran still has a covert biological weapons program, but based on tensions that have been building for years, I believe that if attacked, Iran will not hesitate to attack our nation with a ferocity that may take our war planners off-guard. (Again…)
We already know they are here, and several stories from the border indicate their efforts at infiltrating the US has been successful:
Texas Sheriffs: Terrorists Entering U.S. from Mexico
NewsMax.com Wires Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2006
This article by Kevin Mooney originally appeared at CNSNews.com.
The chief law enforcement officers of several Texas counties along the southern U.S. border warn that Arabic-speaking individuals are learning Spanish and integrating into Mexican culture before paying smugglers to sneak them into the United States. The Texas Sheriffs’ Border Coalition believes those individuals are likely terrorists and that drug cartels and some members of the Mexican military are helping them get across the border.
Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez of Zapata County, Texas told Cybercast News Service that Iranian currency, military badges in Arabic, jackets and other clothing are among the items that have been discovered along the banks of the Rio Grande River. The sheriff also said there are a substantial number of individuals crossing the southern border into the U.S. who are not Mexican. He described the individuals in question as well-funded and able to pay so-called “coyotes” - human smugglers - large sums of money for help gaining illegal entry into the U.S. MORE
The evidence that the QUDS force and Al Qaeda have successfully entered our nation is undeniable, and even though we have evidence they are using the porous southern border as an entry point, the gaping hole in our national security is still open, an invitation to anyone that has the desires to covertly enter our country. Even worse than conventional methods for entering our country, the southern border offers potential terrorists an entry point that will also accommodate their weapons, and none of us knows what they might be. Below are several links that also indicate our country is being infiltrated by people who’s intention is to inflict as much damage upon the country as they can in the event of war:
Our nation consists of thousands of square miles of terrain and vital infrastructure, any which could be terrorist targets. From simple targets like oil terminals, pipelines, major power-grid switching stations, Dams, you name it, our infrastructure is laid out in a way that attacks could occur where least expected but would still create a lot of confusion, stress, and wondering where a “safe haven” exists, if there is one. If they have biological weapons, the way the bulk of our water supply is configured and other factors, spreading a deadly disease is much easier than you can imagine. We also have to understand the Iranian philosophy and the reputation of the QUDS force They are hand-picked and rival our own special forces in physical prowess and may surpass us in mental conditioning. As a military unit they are a formidable adversary on the battlefield, but left to their own devices in an open society, the havoc they could wreak upon this nation could be monumental. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may be arrogant, speaks when silence would better serve his purpose, and seems intent on not giving an inch - but we must also remember that the Bush administration turned-down Iranian overtures for peace in 2003. Middle-East experts speculate that Bush ignoring previous peaceful initiatives from Iran is largely responsible for their current hard-line stance. While Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is abrasive and seems intent on making the US blink first, I don’t believe that he is stupid either!
He must know that he is treading on thin ice, and while he seems assured the US will not mount a preemptive strike against Iran, analysts believe that he has set in motion a “force” to avenge what he sees as an unprovoked attack against Iran. He has warned us, and I don’t take his threats lightly. It is especially disconcerting when you understand that members of the QUDS force are fiercely loyal and would not hesitate to lay down their lives to avenge America’s attack on their homeland. If we go to war with Iran, we will face a different type of well-organized Guerrilla fighters that by our standards, are fanatics and value no life whatsoever, including their own. Bring yourself back to the Iran/Iraq war and remember when teenage Iranians ran though Iraqi mine fields, sacrificing their lives so the tanks and other support vehicles could get through. That’s the mentality of Iran on a full-blown war footing - and for our troops sake, I hope they are spared from fighting people who resemble barbarians.
Then, we have our own Iranian population in the United Stares to consider; Wikipedia shows that we have a growing Iranian-American population that in 2000 was estimated to be 338,000. In 2004, that figure rose to 691,000; the last figure they show is 900,000, another substantial rise. Based on people that choose not to participate in Census and other governmental agencies, it’s probably safe to conclude that we are close to one million Iranian-Americans. To the best of my knowledge, our Iranian-American members of society have been productive and peaceful. If I have missed something, I’m sure it will be pointed out by the readership. There is violence in every community, but as it pertains to what we hear on the news and even on Blogs, I have not noted violence in the Iranian-American community that would suggest they are different than any other minority. In fact, I have heard so little it suggests to me that as a whole, they may be less prone to violence than several communities I could list.
Iranian immigration to the United States has been continuous since the 1980s. Today, the United States contains the highest number of Iranians in the world outside Iran not including a large and influential Iranian Zohrastrian community in India. The Iranian-American community has produced a sizable number of individuals notable in many fields, including medicine, engineering, and business. The community expanded predominantly in the early 1980s in the wake of the Iranian Revolution and the fall of the former regime. The majority of Iranian refugees are upper-middle class and others are wealthy[citation needed]. They have comparatively liberal political opinions and westernized lifestyles due in part to American acculturation. Iranian-Americans thus tend to practice moderate, less traditional forms of Shi’ism (some were forced into asylum or exile for disagreements over religion with the Islamic Republic of Iran) as well as liberal Judaism.
Many Iranian Americans are also members of the Azeri, Armenian, Kurdish, Assyrian or other ethnic groups, reflecting the diversity of Iran.
The 2000 US Census estimated that 338,000 Iranian-Americans reside in the United States. In 2004, the Iranian-American population was estimated at 691,000 according to Iranian studies group [4] at MIT [5]. Large concentrations of Iranian Americans live in the state of California, more than 500,000 of them live in Southern California particularly around Los Angeles, Orange County, La Jolla (San Diego), and San José. Other Iranian-American communities in California include the Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley, Imperial Valley and the Coachella Valley. For this reason, the L.A area with its Iranian American residents is sometimes referred to as “Tehrangeles” or “Irangeles” among Iranian Americans, in allusion to Iran and its capital, Tehran, which is also a sister city of Los Angeles.[6] According to Ethnologue, there are at least 900,000 speakers of the Iranian dialects of the Persian language living in the US.[3] LINK
Of course, I’m speaking of the Iranian-American community as it exists today; tomorrow is too much of a toss-up, and as fast as events are transpiring today, the future remains unknown, uncertain, and unpredictable. Many American Iranian’s have family in Iran, communicate regularly, and certainly care about their families just as much as we care for our own. How much anger and outrage will be generated in America’s Iranian community if we launch an unprovoked first-strike targeting Iran? The Iranian nuclear program covers a lot of ground, and even if we don’t use tactical nuclear bunker-busting bombs, the causalities are likely to be enormous if our mission is to destroy Iran’s nuclear capability. What about the Islamic community within the United States? How large is America’s Muslim community?
Number of Muslims in the U.S.
Nobody knows.
This is a political hot-potato. Some non-Muslims have accused Muslims of exaggerating their numbers in order to obtain more political clout. Some Muslims have accused non-Muslims of releasing false, low numbers in order to “marginalize” Islam. In religion, as in war, truth is often the first casualty.
Estimates of the number of Muslims in North America range from a little over one million adults to seven million adults and children. One cause of the disagreement appears to be related to the percentage of Muslim immigrants: * Who have abandoned Islam since they arrived in the US, or * Who still consider themselves to be Muslims, but who do not participate in mosque activities. MORE
Further, if we attack Iran we are virtually certain they will retaliate. After an attack, we can expect huge protests and anger from both of the above communities - and then retribution if we face violent attacks within our own borders from QUDS force operatives that already exist within the country. In this author’s opinion, it’s a recipe for disaster and a subsequent declaration of martial law would be inevitable. Mr. Conyer’s statement was nothing more than symbolic; based on US troop and naval movements, recent preparations by Israel and Saudi Arabia, and Russia clearly stating it was our intention to attack Iran, a threat of impeachment “after the fact” is hollow and meaningless.
It’s about damn time that our Congress on both sides of the isle wake the hell up and take action to protect our nation as well as themselves and their own families. Our own military doesn’t discount threats from Iran of attacks against the US if we start a preemptive attack. and like it or not, our Congress is configured to include representatives from all fifty (50) states. I doubt if their families are bullet-proof, impervious to disease, or radioactive-resistant, however I’m guessing they are human too, and when you risk the rest of the citizenry, you also risk the welfare of your own families. None of us know where terrorists may strike in retaliation, and that “where” could include your own constituency(s).
Where is the Mainstream New Media on this issue? Several Blogs, including my own, have contained all of this information, and just a few days after the information was published, John Conyers issued a statement that Bush would face impeachment hearings if he attacked Iran. Hello??? Was this a coincidence, or was Mr. Conyers verifying that indeed, we are planning on attacking Iran?
PM declares ‘emergency’ in drill
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert declared a state of emergency Monday following “a barrage of hundreds of missiles from Syria, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip,” as the country’s largest-ever emergency exercise, “Turning Point 2,” continues.
Dozens of Israeli civilians were “killed” on Sunday as Israel went to “war” with Syria, Hizbullah and Hamas on the first day of the exercise.
The five-day drill opened with an announcement by Olmert at the weekly cabinet meeting of an outbreak of hostilities following the firing of Katyusha rockets into northern Israel by Hizbullah in Lebanon. The simulated conflict quickly escalated and by the afternoon - representing the fourth day of the “war” - Israel was also “being hit by Syrian missiles and Hamas-fired Kassams and Katyushas.” MORE
For an investigative reporter, there is an abundance of evidence that suggests the United States is seriously considering, or is in the final planning stages of an attack on Iran. Don’t forget about Syria, because if we strike Iran, Israel will be up to their noses with instantaneous retaliatory strikes from Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria, the latter of whom Israel will likely attack first to gain the tactical advantage. What is being planned is not just an attack on Iran, but igniting the entire Middle-East in another one of Bush and Cheney’s wars; we can take it by remaining silent, or we can raise hell by unmercifully calling our Congressional Representatives with calls and emails, and don’t forget to include your local editors too; if enough of you send letters to the Editor, some are likely to be published, helping to bring awareness to the rest of our nation.
I’m sorry, but the MSM has let us down again. I’m hoping they won’t be forgiven so easily for this latest transgression, but if we act in unison and seek universal condemnation of this upcoming war, it’s possible we can raise the awareness of those who are still asleep at the wheel, including many of our own lawmakers. We did it on S 1959, and if we gain join in solidarity, we can make a difference on this issue too. Remember what Thomas Jefferson stated, and in this writer’s opinion, no truer words have ever been spoken before this great nation and we should ponder upon and take to heart his excellent advice:
“Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.”
“Leave no authority existing not responsible to the people.”
He had "other priorities in the '60s than military service." But our Vice President got to play one on TV the other day at CPAC, where his defiant remarks seemed to borrow freely from Jack Nicholson's Colonel Jessup.
Would Americans be outraged if the government decided to read every piece of our personal mail? Think about it, letters and notes which are sent to a lover, things we all say in anger, regret later, and never follow-through on? What about confidential financial information, plans to trump your competitor with a new product or service, and a host of personal issues that are too numerous to mention? People in the United States have become accustomed to their privacy and believe it is one of those “unalienable constitutional rights” which are guaranteed to all American citizens that most of us take for granted. Our constitution and Bill of Rights demand it, yet here we are, one year before Bush leaves office, and the government is planning on doing almost exactly what I described. The only difference is that instead of snail-mail (which can also be opened), the government’s proposed directive covers any and all computer communications and correspondence that everyday citizens send and receive on their computer systems. This includes any all financial information as well as personal matters of anyone in your home;the communications of your teenagers will be monitored as well, and issues that are normally kept within the family unit(s) will suddenly become part of your governmental profile.
Now that our society is firmly entrenched in the digital world, a multitude of personal activity is carried out on the Internet. Millions of people use dating services, communicate with prospective “dates” and often bare their souls. We know this occurs on a regular basis by the huge amount of people that are finding successful relationships and oftentimes marriage through the internet. People often find it easier to discuss extremely personal matters on the Internet because the embarrassment and shy nature of many of the people who use these services tend to become more honest and speak of matters they never would have in person - all because of the unique privacy the internet has offered those who are seeking friends, lovers, and permanent relationships. How will these services perform when the subscribers know that every word they write is monitored and read, possibly ending-up in a file on that individual with the FBI or other law enforcement office, most likely Homeland Security?
Don’t forget the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007, also known as “The Thought Crime Prevention Bill.”S-1959 is the vehicle Homeland Security will use to judge and imprison those who they deem are guilty, but it is this directive that will help to compile what they will classify as “thought crimes”, and suddenly, like those who lived in fear while attempting to keep themselves alive in other societies that traded personal privacy for “security”, Americans will be fearful when they use any means of communication, worried that words said in anger or while being particularly emotional could be used against them and given credibility when none actually exists. In similar situations and throughout history, families were broken-up, the people as a whole lived in misery and fear, always afraid they would be picked-up by the Gestapo or other governmental storm troopers merely because they had communicated with someone the government blieved to be a “dissident”.
Many of those that were caught-up in the government’s witch-hunt were enlisted to spy on their neighbors to keep from being arrested themselves, and in the era of Stalin, Hitler, Mao’s China, and the old Soviet Union, these tactics were used to turn entire populations into informants and spies; as more and more people were arrested, those who were attempting to save themselves would often make-up stories about innocents they believed the “authorities” wanted to hear, others were turned-in and eventually the stench of mistrust was felt throughout the respective countries; even family members had to be careful, ever watchful that someone from within had been compromised and was attempting to escape their own death or incarceration by implicating another family member. Anyone that was identified as a dissident or radical was arrested, executed or sent off to a concentration camp. What was left behind was a terrified, subservient populace, easy to manage through fear and intimidation, and cowed into submission because they watched members of their own family and friends being arrested, even executed in front of them for crimes that never existed. (The implementation of similar programs in the United States could very well result in similar situations as were experienced with other societies that were morphed into “police states.” This is surely a matter where we can look upon our past in order to know what to expect from our future. One constant is that history always repeats itself. )
For reasons none of us fully understand, our Congress is powerless to stop Bush and Cheney from doing as they damn well please, and even though they have broken laws and committed war crimes, lied and stand in utter defiance of Congress and the people, neither is touchable and act with impunity, safe in the knowledge that Congress is too cowed to impeach. To allow these tyrants to gain the power to read any email or computer communication they desire is unconstitutional on its face, and now that the Supreme Court is stacked, a directive such as this is likely to succeed in court if legislation isn’t passed to prohibit any such intrusion(s) into the privacy of innocent Americans. This is what the government is proposing:
January 13, 2008, 12:00 am
Dancing Spychief Wants to Tap Into Cyberspace
Siobhan Gorman reports on the U.S. spychief.
Spychief Mike McConnell is drafting a plan to protect America’s cyberspace that will raise privacy issues and make the current debate over surveillance law look like “a walk in the park,” McConnell tells The New Yorker in the issue set to hit newsstands Monday. “This is going to be a goat rope on the Hill. My prediction is that we’re going to screw around with this until something horrendous happens.”
At issue, McConnell acknowledges, is that in order to accomplish his plan, the government must have the ability to read all the information crossing the Internet in the United States in order to protect it from abuse. Congressional aides tell The Journal that they, too, are also anticipating a fight over civil liberties that will rival the battles over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Part of the lawmakers’ ire, they have said, is the paltry information the administration has provided. The cyberspace security initiative was first reported in September by The Baltimore Sun, and some congressional aides say that lawmakers have still learned more from the media than they did from the few Top Secret briefings they have received hours before the administration requested money in November to jump start the program.Please note that the funds to “jump start” this program were requested in November. If I were to hazard a guess, this program is already running somewhere in tests, or for all we know, may already been implemented. This administration hasn’t exactly been truthful with the people or Congress.MORE
Scholars and Rogues posted an insight into this situation that makes perfect sense, and I agree with them, there are no coincidences!
All your Internets are belong to ATT & the NSA
Two seemingly coincidental bits of news crossed my desk yesterday morning. First, the Wall Street Journal contains excerpts of an interview with Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell in which he outlines a vast new initiative to police Internet traffic “for abuse.”
Meanwhile, AT&T announced that it plans to extend its initiative to examine packets of information on its network for illegally traded content, becoming, in effect, the Internet’s traffic cop.
Let’s see…the world’s largest telecom company states it’s in negotiations with major entertainment conglomerate to police the Internet on their behalf, on the same day the DNI announces the government wants more eyes on Internet traffic?
Mike McConnell is an old friend to the major telecom companies, having most recently stumped on their behalf to grant them retroactive immunity from prosecution in the NSA’s illegal surveillance program. He’s also a big fan of privatizing national security functions, favoring everything from outsourcing background checks to enlisting credit bureaus to handle the work of verifying identities. I find it not at all unfeasible that even as AT&T is offering its services to Big Content, Big Government is waiting expectantly in the visitors’ room for its turn at the till.
Make no mistake, this is the directive that will give S 1959 its teeth. If they make it retroactive, think about the many emails we have written, sometimes blowing-off steam, all the time critical of those attempting to steal our most basic liberties. How much can you say on the Internet or in private communication with family or friends until you’re branded as a dissident and find yourself guilty of a “thought crime?” Why is the government becoming so aloof from the people that they trample on our most basic rights of privacy, evidently attempting to sneak it through as quietly as possible.
We already live in a society where the FBI or other law enforcement agencies (sic) can break into your home while you’re away, search your home, and then plant surveillance devices as they leave. If their search and subsequent surveillance draw a blank, the “suspect” is never told of the incident. The governments request to have access to all of our computer communications is an intrusion into the very essence of privacy. We believe that our home is our castle, that mail used to be private, and now the privacy of the Internet is being assaulted and the average American is being treated as a suspect, guilty until proven innocent, and no one knows exactly what will be the deciding factor in declaring whether an individual is a “dissident.”
If the government has complete control of the Internet and could access all communications, think of the Congress, attorneys, investigative (sic) reporters, groups that actively protest the government, opposition parties, whether they be Democrat, Republican, or Independent, and the many entities “Big Brother” would like to peek into and search for anything they can claim is anti-government. How will Americans communicate on a mass scale as we do now attempting to fight elements that seek to steal our freedoms, knowing that when we do, everything we write is cataloged and filed to be used against us at a later date? As it stands now, the legality of the current program is in question, therefore, unless it’s terrorism related, is information that has been gathered illegally. We know they are reading and watching now, but this “vast new initiative”, if implemented, would then make that information legally obtained (IMO), thereby circumventing almost all of the criminal law we have on the books in regard illegal search and seizure, the right against self-incrimination would disappear, and Miranda would become meaningless. The very nature of the program is one of surveillance and intimidation, followed by an eventual removal of dissidents who were posing a “credible threat” against the government (sic).
This “vast new initiative to police Internet traffic” is presented in such broad terms that it defies common sense and logic. The imposition of a program this draconian has the potential to turn neighbor against neighbor. We were suspicious and contacted Congress and the media by the thousands or hundreds of thousands demanding an answer as to why HR1955 and S 1959 were needed and written in such broad language, a list of other questions, and why we needed this law when it is obvious we have an abundance of laws currently in force that effectively address violent behavior or any such conspiracy to plan or attempt to destabilize our country . As the Bill is written, it could be interpreted any way they choose, and in circumstances like that, it’s always the people who lose. To the best of my knowledge and belief, There’s A Press Blackout on S 1959, the Thought Crime Prevention Bill; Why? Even though HR1955 and S 1959 are of great concern to the public, all we received for our efforts was a statement issued by the House of Representatives that was double-speak and avoided the primary issues as if they were the Black Plague.
Senate Bill S 1959 is still in committee, and now this “vast new initiative to police Internet traffic” is introduced out of thin air, and to anyone looking closely, this “initiative” is an intricate piece of the heart and soul of the “Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007.” The “Thought Crime Prevention Bill” is the framework to implement and create the program, and this directive is obviously one of many tools to monitor and sort through the nations email and other communications. None of us are exactly sure “what” it is they will be searching for, however, it’s obvious that Bush and Cheney are violating the last vestiges of privacy we have, effectively treating our entire population as suspects instead of respecting our most fundamental rights of privacy and due process of the law.
This directive, initiative, or whatever it is must not be allowed to go into effect, or remain in effect if it’s currently in operation. This wanton invasion of privacy is hurled at us with absolutely no probable cause, and the number of constitutional amendments and criminals laws, state and federal, which it violates is staggering. With a directive in place that allows the government unfettered access to all of our personal computer transmissions, it would be an incredible stretch to keep labeling the United States as a democracy. Once we are stripped of those rights that afford us privacy and the expectation that our lives will be free from invasive and illegal searches, when Habeas Corpus is suspended for anyone that is designated as an “enemy combatant, the very essence of democracy disappears!
This directive, which could already be in operation, exemplifies our initial fears in regard the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. Whereas S 1959 loosely defines the concept of “Thought Crimes” and potential threats against the government, this is an enabling act that will provide the detailed information which Homeland Security would likely rely upon to determine who it was that were actually guilty of these (sic) crimes. From past experience, we know the FBI has investigated peaceful protest groups and a host of others whose only “crime” was belonging to, or having ties to organizations that vigorously oppose our loss of liberty and the failure of the Bush administration to comply with the rule of law; thousands have been added to “terrorist watch lists” by virtue of their peaceful disagreement with the government:
President Bush called upon every agency of government to provide his administration with the names of every so-called person of concern contained in their millions of files. Those records included not just potential terrorists, but also deadbeat dads, people wanted by the federal Marshal, and Drug Enforcement Administration suspects, among others. But they all found themselves on what has come to be called the “terrorist watch list.” By June 2004, that list had swelled to 158,000 names. In May of this year, it clocked in at 755,000. Today, only five months later, it’s at 860,000 and counting, according to the Government Accountability Office.LINK
The above figures were posted on November 1, 2007. Based on how fast this list has been growing I believe we can safely project the total is well over a million and still growing. How does a “dead-beat Dad” qualify in anyone’s reality of having committed a crime or act so horrendous that it merits inclusion on the “terrorist watch list? ” It also states “Drug Enforcement Administration suspects“. If they are only suspects and included on this list, when the round-up occurs there’s little-doubt that “suspect” will equate to being guilty. We need a better break-down of what type of individuals are on this list. When you note people as innocuous as “dead-beat Dads” being added to this list, we have to question if this “terrorist Watch List” is nothing more than a list of undesirables this administration would like to - or has plans to purge from our society.
For those who have diligently been participating in the fight against HR1955/S 1959, a companion measure has shown its ugly head that provides the real teeth for S 1959; it’s important to note that many parts of this program are being kept secret from members of Congress, and that doesn’t bode well for the American people:
Part of the lawmakers’ ire, they have said, is the paltry information the administration has provided. The cyberspace security initiative was first reported in September by The Baltimore Sun, and some congressional aides say that lawmakers have still learned more from the media than they did from the few Top Secret briefings they have received hours before the administration requested money in November to jump start the program.
Americans are again being saddled by an illegal wiretapping program, however this one is exceptionally bold, violates countless issues of privacy, due process, and essentially makes everyone in America a “suspect.” No information that we process through the Internet will be “private” or exempt from the governments prying eyes. This is an unconscionable attack against the basic privacy that every American is guaranteed under our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Monitoring America’s email and private computer communications is the epitome of a “police state”; the “National ID Card” was just approved, all of which are tools to track, monitor, and catalog us for whatever awaits those who are on the “Terrorist Watch List” or other lists that DHS has or will be compiling in the future. Based on the scant information that has been released, there doesn’t appear to be any “exemptions” and at first glance, it looks like our children’s communications will be monitored as well!
Is this program already operational? In the below press release, it states:
The cyberspace security initiative was first reported in September by The Baltimore Sun, and some congressional aides say that lawmakers have still learned more from the media than they did from the few Top Secret briefings they have received hours before the administration requested money in November to jump start the program.
Was the money to “jump start” this illegal surveillance program approved when it was requested - and if so, is it already operational in selected areas to test its capability - or is the entire program already functional? These are questions that must be answered immediately; even though Mike McConnell didn’t state this program is in any way associated with S 1959 and the “Thought Crime Prevention Bill”, anyone of average intelligence that examines the intent of the program can easily make the connection and understand that McConnell’s plans for “policing the Internet” is the actual mechanism the government will use to identify and subsequently begin cataloging all of those who are guilty of “thought crimes” and supposedly pose a threat to our national security.
As citizens that refuse to give-up our freedom(s) and privacy without a fight, this is a segment of the program that must be fought-out in the courts, our legislature, and in the court of public opinion. Matters as serious as these must be injected into the Presidential debates, and above all, we as patriotic Americans must force this issue out in the open and somehow, break the “press blackout” that has been imposed on all aspects of the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. Once again, we are faced with an urgent call to action, and this time, we need to re-double our efforts and drown Congress and the White House with emails and calls demanding that this program and its successors be suspended pending further legislative and judicial review.
As we first predicted when HR 1955 was passed in the House, this Bill threatens the very essence of freedom and democracy in the United States. There is no matter that is more serious than protecting our basic rights of privacy, freedom, due process of law, equality, and the inherent right that every American possesses in regard self-incrimination; this latest “request” by the government to obtain unfettered access to our most private information and documents very clearly demonstrates that President Bush and the intelligence community have now departed from any semblance of democracy and are now running this country as if it were a dictatorship, and if we don’t rise-up and make ourselves heard, much louder than before, saving our country from tyranny may prove to be impossible.
For your convenience, the below link reveals a huge amount of phone numbers and extensions that will facilitate making phone calls as we again call to demand that our government honors our own laws and constitution. Try to make at least two calls per day, and as we did last time, keep making those calls on a daily basis, and invite your friends to do the same. Pay special attention to the Presidential candidates, and if they refuse to address this matter, then why even consider voting for them in 2008? Tell them so in no uncertain terms that they will not receive your vote unless these issues are brought out in the open.
Send copies of your email and letters to the local editors of your newspapers, and cross-post this information on every discussion and political forum you can find. Last time, the House of Representatives responded with a statement that was double-speak; if we can keep up the pressure again, this time we shouldn’t stop until we break the press blackout and the issue is brought forth so that the entire population will know about its existence rather than being confined to those of us who receive our news from the Internet. It’s hard to believe that the situation has actually become worse, but as you read SpyChief Mike McConnell’s request and understand that every last bit of privacy we possess is being threatened, the real possibility exists that if we don’t join together in solidarity on a massive scale, this concept that we call freedom could very well disappear forever, and as patriotic Americans, none of us can stand idly by while Bush and Cheney are attempting to destroy the very foundations of democracy and freedom.
Preface:After writing for over three years, I consider this to be the most important Op-Ed I have ever written; forget who I am and please concentrate on the facts and the evidence contained herein - and then form your own opinion. I am only the messenger, but the facts speak for themselves, and our nation faces a grave crisis that the majority of the population doesn’t even know exists.
Countless millions of Americans are asking themselves, their Congress, and even their local newspapers why Congress seems to be in collusion with The Bush administration, even though they have violated our Constitution, The Bill of Rights, our Rule of Law, stand in utter contempt of Congress, violate international laws and treaties with impunity – yet a Congress that is empowered and has the duty to impeach these traitors and tyrants still abdicate their sworn duty to uphold the very constitutional values they were voted into office to protect – yet they stand mute and appear to be complicit with the eventual downfall of our democratic republic; Why? Millions are asking these questions, voicing their outrage, and still nothing of substance is being accomplished to halt our nation from falling into tyranny and utter chaos – and most of us stand in disbelief while Bush and Cheney shred everything that once made the United States the great nation it used to be, and now we watch as our economy is literally falling apart! LINK
Until a few days ago, I was one of those Americans that were asking all of these questions, and more - even editorializing on Nancy Pelosi’s idiotic stand on “taking impeachment off the table” and generally condemning our Congress for their lack of courage and inaction as we face the downfall of the world’s foremost democratic society. LINKLINK We know that Bush’s illegal wiretapping began the second month he was in office, and now because of a patriotic Whistle-blower who had the courage to tell the truth, we also know that the Bush administration was not tracking so-called Internet traffic and calls that were based in other countries, but that ALL Internet and possibly phone communication as well within the United States was being quietly fed into NSA’s surveillance system(s), and yes, that includes privileged information from attorneys, Congressmen/women, and every other citizen of the United States! LINK
Even before the 2006 Mid-term elections, I had a firm belief that President Bush, aided by Cheney and his co-conspirators in the NSA were wiretapping members of Congress and actually blackmailing them into submission. Then, it was a suspicion, and as a matter of public record, I had already secretly provided a Democrat in Florida with conclusive evidence that CIFA was in violation of their mandated functions, and I was assured that information and evidence was forwarded to members of Congress in late 2005 or early 2006. Then, after I interviewed Joe Roberts, who was running against Jeff Miller in the Florida Panhandle region, my suspicions were also mirrored by a Democrat running for office in the US Senate. LINK Unfortunately, I wish that was the only serious issue we must deal with, however, just a few days ago I found, quite by accident, or because of the clever actions of Rob Kall, the Editor of Op-Ed News, who included a link on an article that had nothing to do with politics in a piece I had written on CNN and their oversimplification of the Super-Volcano at Yellowstone National Park. LINK (Or so I thought… Rob knows that I’m extremely inquisitive, and that I’d follow a link that didn’t appear to relate to my article - so to him I am grateful that he inspired this important editorial.)
The link that Rob Kall associated with my story was this:
NSPD-51 and the Potential for a Coup d’Etat by National Emergency
By William H. White
October 30, 2007
Can you think of anyone better than George W. Bush with whom to entrust the dictatorial powers hinted at in NSPD-51? Or perhaps you are unwilling to trust anyone with such powers, even Bush. That is not a option in NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE 51 (NSPD-51), signed by Bush and released without comment by the White House on May 9, 2007. To quote from NSPD-51: “This policy establishes ‘National Essential Functions,’ prescribes continuity requirements for all executive departments and agencies, and provides guidance for State, local, territorial, and tribal governments, and private sector organizations in order to ensure a comprehensive and integrated national continuity program that will enhance the credibility of our national security posture and enable a more rapid and effective response to and recovery from a national emergency.” What one would expect, but for some additional details.
Under NSPD-51, only limited ‘National Essential Functions’ of government will continue, which may or may not include Congress and the courts. NSPD-51 assures us: “Enduring Constitutional Government means a cooperative effort among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Federal Government, coordinated by the President, as a matter of comity with respect to the legislative and judicial branches…” This “matter of comity,” which usually refers to the informal and voluntary recognition of jurisdiction among courts, is a troublesomely ambiguous phrase in this context wherein the president determines this as he “coordinates.”
Unfortunately, NSPD-51 provides limited “guidance” to state and local governments, because it revoked the then existing Presidential Decision Directive 67 of October 21, 1998 (”Enduring Constitutional Government and Continuity of Government Operations”), including “all Annexes thereto.” And replaced them with NSPD-51, along with: “Annex A and the classified Continuity Annexes, attached hereto.” But then the rabbit disappears as NSPD-51 soldiers on: “This directive and the information contained herein shall be protected from unauthorized disclosure, provided that, except for Annex A, the Annexes attached to this directive are classified and shall be accorded appropriate handling, consistent with applicable Executive Orders.” In other words, all the details are secret and even the non secret “Annex A” remains undisclosed by the White House. MUCH MORE
If you don’t read another word of this editorial, above all, please follow the above link and read the article in its entirety, as it is the foremost threat to our way of life and the very essence of freedom as we know it in the United States! Also, it vividly offers an extremely valid assumption/speculation/hypothesis on why Congress may be actually afraid to instigate actual impeachment proceeding’s against President Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney. In fact, there is one more paragraph which must be reproduced to urge anyone reading this article to keep reading to understand the extreme jeopardy this unholy directive places our entire society in jeopardy - and could end freedom as we know it and allow President Bush to become nothing less than a dictator with the sole power to rule our country with the iron fist of tyranny - effectively destroying our democracy, probably irreparably, and for that reason, this is a must-read paragraph:
This almost entirely secret directive can be invoked when the president decides “any incident, regardless of location, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government functions” occurred. Bush alone will decide when he must assume this burden, though surely only upon prayerful contemplation during the time saved not having to consult Congress. In addition, because of a change to the Insurrection Act of 1807, enacted as part of the 439-page 2007 Defense Authorization Bill signed into law in October 2006, Bush need no longer obtain a governor’s consent to take control of a state’s national guard units. This same bill overturns the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which limited the use of US military forces within the United States for law enforcement. In addition, Bush issued an executive order on July 17, 2007 authorizing the government to seize the assets of anyone “undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq” under provisions of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Could this include critics of the Iraq war, whom Bush has repeatedly accused of undermining the war effort? LINK
If you take into consideration that President Bush has again circumvented the checks and balances demanded by our Constitution and rule of law, and that this directive is so secretive that even members of Congress are barred from viewing it - who doubts that it contains items that Congress would immediately disapprove of and demand they be quashed; no President has the legal authority to bypass the US Congress, nor does he have the right to make directives so draconian that in an effort to keep his plans hidden, he is again defying Congress and refusing to comply with the law of the land. When you start comprehending the actual danger our democratic republic is in, after reading the directive (or what we have been able to ascertain of its contents) it’s obvious the implied threat of this secret directive is having a negative impact on our Congress, and I strongly believe it’s not a stretch that Bush will attempt to enact this directive if a serious effort is made at impeaching him, and Congress appears to be “hoping” that he will step-down after the 2008 elections rather than addressing this issue and attempting to negate its possible impact.
First and foremost for the people to consider is that President’s don’t create directives if they aren’t expecting to someday place them into motion, and when one is written so that Bush can enact it purely at his sole discretion - especially when such an air of secrecy has been attached that could make Bush an instant Dictator, effectively taking-over our country. It is true, detention camps are being built and renovated across the United States, and we the people have to question why so many are being built, and especially the secrecy that surrounds the entire project:
Homeland Security Contracts for Vast New Detention Camps
News Analysis/Commentary, Peter Dale Scott, New America Media, Feb 08, 2006
Editor’s Note:A little-known $385 million contract for Halliburton subsidiary KBR to build detention facilities for “an emergency influx of immigrants” is another step down the Bush administration’s road toward martial law, the writer says.
BERKELEY, Calif.–A Halliburton subsidiary has just received a $385 million contract from the Department of Homeland Security to provide “temporary detention and processing capabilities.”
“Almost certainly this is preparation for a roundup after the next 9/11 for Mid-Easterners, Muslims and possibly dissenters,” says Daniel Ellsberg, a former military analyst who in 1971 released the Pentagon Papers, the U.S. military’s account of its activities in Vietnam. “They’ve already done this on a smaller scale, with the ’special registration’ detentions of immigrant men from Muslim countries, and with Guantanamo.”
It is clear that the Bush administration is thinking seriously about martial law. Many critics have alleged that FEMA’s spectacular failure to respond to Katrina followed from a deliberate White House policy: of paring back FEMA, and instead strengthening the military for responses to disasters.
A multimillion program for detention facilities will greatly increase NORTHCOM’s ability to respond to any domestic disorders. MUCH MORE
These “detention camps” are now interspersed throughout the United States, and many of them are already manned with personnel to run the facilities. LINK
I believe that there are two (s) factors that have Congress essentially hog-tied and ineffective; first, I still believe that the NSA under Bush and Cheney’s guidance have spied on, gathered derogatory information, and much like the days when J. Edgar Hoover was holding much of Washington hostage by the enormous dossiers that he had gathered on his perceived adversaries - the same practice is being used by the Bush administration today, and that may partially explain why they refuse to act in the best interests of the country. Second, with the Congress possibly fearful that Bush will engineer an emergency to suspend the Constitution if they instigate serious impeachment efforts - it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to acknowledge that even Congress is faced with a danger they may not have the fortitude or wherewithal to respond to effectively, and on both matters, “we the people” can offer them a solution. Yes, in spite of the enormous planning Bush and his Neo-cons, corporations, and the radical religious-right have engineered, their plan is not unstoppable - and there is a way to effectively negate these plans that have taken decades to finally be a threat to America - Again!. (Read: Like Father, Like Son – and Grandfather Prescott too! and you will understand this is not the first time a Bush family member and corporate America, as well as our “dynasty families” have attempted to overthrow our government.)
Time grows short, and just yesterday, it was revealed that once again, Vice President Dick Cheney has been attempting to force our various intelligence agencies to remove dissenting opinions from the NIE in regard Iran and its nuclear programs - which was actually ready for publication a year ago, but the White House wouldn’t accept it because it didn’t agree with their attempts to once again, make the intelligence fit their plans to ultimately attack Iran:
Cheney Tried to Stifle Dissent in Iran National Intelligence Estimate
By Gareth Porter
WASHINGTON, Nov 8 (IPS) - A National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran has been held up for more than a year in an effort to force the intelligence community to remove dissenting judgments on the Iranian nuclear programme, and thus make the document more supportive of U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney’s militarily aggressive policy toward Iran, according to accounts of the process provided by participants to two former Central Intelligence Agency officers.
But this pressure on intelligence analysts, obviously instigated by Cheney himself, has not produced a draft estimate without those dissenting views, these sources say. The White House has now apparently decided to release the unsatisfactory draft NIE, but without making its key findings public.
A former CIA intelligence officer who has asked not to be identified told IPS that an official involved in the NIE process says the Iran estimate was ready to be published a year ago but has been delayed because the director of national intelligence wanted a draft reflecting a consensus on key conclusions — particularly on Iran’s nuclear programme.
The NIE coordinates the judgments of 16 intelligence agencies on a specific country or issue. MUCH MORE
Thankfully, this information didn’t escape the attention of Dennis Kucinich, and he has already written a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. and stated that impeaching VP Dick Cheney may be the only way to prevent an eventual war with Iran:
Congressman Kucinich writes letter to Judiciary Committee head supporting impeachment of Vice President Cheney
On Friday, as the embattled legislation is pushed into committee, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) wrote to House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. (D-MI) in support of H. Res 799, Articles of Impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney.
Text of the letter appears below.
I am writing in support of H. Res. 799, the Articles of Impeachment which were referred to the committee relative to the Impeachment of the Vice President of the United States of America.
Recent reports indicate that the Vice President is attempting to shape the National Intelligence Estimate on Iran to conform to his misperceptions about the threat Iran actually poses. Much like his deceptive efforts in the lead up to the Iraq war, the Vice President appears to be manipulating intelligence to conform to his beliefs.MORE
Even though the possibility of impeaching Dick Cheney is encouraging, the fact is, such an action may be placing us in grave danger of Bush enacting this semi-secret directive and purposely creating a set of circumstances so he can use it, thus derailing any serious impeachment effort. I am not stating that the fear of him declaring martial law is a reason to suspend such efforts, in fact, to the contrary, I advocate going full-steam ahead - but with our eyes wide-open into the possible consequences of such an action, and what we as a nation can do to stop Bush from derailing legal and appropriate Congressional action! There are different messages of action and encouragement to each of our several branches of governmental entities that must be stated, and an understanding of what each of these parties, including what the people themselves can do to help circumvent Bush or Cheney derailing our Congress from meeting this daunting challenge head-on, and each will be addressed to the appropriate entities:
To the People of the United States:
I am addressing this message to the “average American”, those that inhabit the quickly disappearing Middle-class, lower Middle-class, and the poor of our country. We are the in the majority of this nation, and corporations exist not in spite of us, but because of our daily efforts and work that keeps this country functioning on an everyday basis. Corporations and special interest groups, while they exhibit the most influence on our Congress and even the President himself - none of them would exist if it were not for us, and if we choose to do so, working in unison and standing in solidarity - we have the power to change the course of history by simply exercising our rights of free speech, and taking the time to make sure this message is broadly disseminated to individuals and groups that can apply the necessary pressure to force Congress to heed our will.
1. Take the time to forward this message to your appropriate Congressional representatives, and if you choose to do so, add your own comments as to why it’s important that they act - and how to prevent our decent into utter tyranny. This action will only take a minute or two of your time. You have the right to DEMAND that Congress take action, not ask, as it is our country, not theirs. Remind them they can be voted out of office if they refuse to obey the will of the people.
2. For those of you that have the time, also make sure and send this message to your appropriate local newspapers and address them to the Editor, again demanding that they cover this issue with the importance that it is due. If enough of you do this, the papers will be forced to respond - or have to answer to angry subscribers who can threaten to discontinue their readership and support of those papers. Again, you can simply forward them a copy of this Editorial, and if enough of you take the time to act, they will be forced to respond. They too exist because of our support - which we can quickly stop if they refuse to listen and act accordingly.
3. If you listen to Air America, make a call and insist that they broadcast this message to everyone that will listen - and tell them that you support their efforts to help free us from the heel of oppression.
4. If you are a fan of Lou Dobbs, who many call a conservative, whether you like him or not, remember that he has doggedly plead the case for the “average American” and has valiantly attempted to support our cause and stop the outsourcing of our jobs and tirelessly speaks with clarity on the corruption that exists within the Bush administration. Don’t like Lou Dobbs, then send Jack Cafferty a quick message, and ask either of them why they have not addressed this critical issue, and request that they focus on the real danger to our democratic Republic.
5. If Keith Olbermann is your favorite, take a few moments to send him a message and request that he help to bring attention to this issue. Or, simply forward a copy of this Editorial to countdown@msnbc.com .
6. Finally, tell as many of your friends that remain unaware of this imminent danger, and ask then to participate in “taking back America.” Remember, the majority of Americans aren’t even aware of this absurd Presidential directive - and as always, knowledge is power, and so far, we have been complacent and none of us have yet acted in unison to stop President Bush from assuming complete control of our country. If you have followed the links and examined the evidence and facts yourself - by now you must be aware of the actual danger this directive poses to the very essence of freedom in America.
NOTE: Except for your local newspapers, if you click on the links I provided, you will instantly be connected to the appropriate way to contact all of the above named individuals.
To the Congress of The United States:
We understand the dilemma you face, however, there are many variables you must consider, and in Part 1 of this editorial, as with all others who will be impacted - I will be brief and attempt to articulate the hurdles you may face, and why the consequence may not be as dire as your have been led to believe. If this administration is holding embarrassing information over your heads to influence your votes and actions, please remember that we are a nation of laws, and Due Process and legal discovery are vital elements of our judicial system. Anything that the Bush administration may be holding over your heads has been illegally obtained, and therefore is null and void in a court of law - and therefore cannot legally be used against you.
If it is embarrassing information and you act to save this great nation from tyranny and oppression, the people will support you and demand that nothing of an incriminating nature be released to the media - and even if it was, Bush and Cheney have lost the trust of a nation, their credibility is shot, and the prospect of us believing them is probably of little or no real consequence. We know that those in Congress have even more evidence than we do - so remember that Big Brother is listening, and if you receive this editorial/essay - please take into consideration that you may represent the last chance of saving this nation from the tyrants and traitors that are busily attempting to overthrow our government.
This is a non-partisan issue, and we know that Republicans as well as Democrats are fearful of this Presidency, as are countless millions of Americans. Speak to your colleagues in confidence, poll those that you know who can be trusted, and for the moment, attempt to act in secrecy as you build momentum to impeach and remove these traitors from office. You all know that no real debate is necessary, as you in Congress are fully apprised of the many crimes that Bush and Cheney have perpetrated against this nation and the world; except for listing the actual charges, there is little or no debate necessary to impeach both of them in unison - and if you’re smart and build a coalition of support - The House and Senate could impeach these scoundrels in a matter of a couple of days, not weeks or months as most people believe.
The Congress is the “Payton Place” of politics, and members know who can be trusted and who cannot be - and springing this measure on the floor in the House unexpectedly, followed almost immediately by the Senate could result in a successful impeachment vote only if you act with the political acumen we know you possess. If a forest fire was burning fifteen miles from your homes, would you fight it while it was still containable - or would you wait until the flames were licking at your own doorsteps? We know by researching the above material that those flames are at our proverbial doorsteps, and unless Congress acts with courage and decisiveness - we all know that the face of this nation could change almost instantaneously from one of freedom and liberty to tyranny and dictatorship.
To the Republicans and GOP, I have special words for you; many of you recently overrode President Bush’s recent veto, joining in with Democrats in enacting a Bill that will truly benefit the people. Please remember how petty and vindictive this President actually is, and remember how he has thrown ardent and loyal supporters to the wolves when it served his purpose. He is loyal to no one but himself, and those of you whom voted your opposition against him may now be considered “enemies of the state” because you did stand-up against him, and you have no guarantee that you and your families won’t also be herded in the early hours of the morning into waiting railroad cars to be delivered to the nearest internment center. This President is petty, vicious, and is loyal only to power, greed, and the corporations who he constantly pays homage to rather than the people of this great nation.
The time to act is now, and whether it be from me, or someone else, the public will eventually be made aware of President Bush’s ulterior motive(s) and their many crimes - and the people will remember those who stood for tyranny and dictatorship, and those that had the courage to throw-off a tyrant and instead choose to represent the people - which is why you were all elected. Time is short, and it’s imperative that you look deep within your souls and make a choice - tyranny or freedom, and please keep in mind that America is watching your every move, and while we may be willing to forgive your past transgressions at this moment in history in order to save our nation - this same good will could just as easily evaporate if you choose to side with individuals that have chosen to disregard our constitution and Rule of Law.
This ends segment 1 of this Editorial, and I am hopeful that “the people” will act on this information that has been hidden from most of the public. The days of wine and roses are over, and while we would most likely grant any offender in Congress immunity if you act with courage and fortitude and rid this nation of its traitors; this mood of forbearance will disappear instantly if we find that thousands, or hundreds of thousands of innocent Americans have been hauled-off as political prisoners for simply exercising their belief in the constitutional values most Americans still cherish and respect.
William Cormier
Footnote: There is nothing of a seditious nature contained in this Editorial. I have simply suggested a way of using our own laws and constitution in a manner that will allow the successful impeachment of Bush and Cheney without giving them an excuse to enact NSPD-51 and escape from the rule of law and subsequent prosecution. I propose to do this in accordance with our current laws and there is no suggestion, either overt or implied of violence or revolution, as I am totally against either of those actions. I do agree that extraordinary means may be needed to save this democratic republic, but destroying it while attempting to do so would be counter-productive and would simply play into the hands of Bush and Cheney and allow them an excuse to declare martial law. Besides, it has taken over two-hundred years to build this great nation, and it was the “average American” that did it through blood, sweat and tears - and to act otherwise goes against everything I believe in as it pertains to this great nation. Corporations who exert immense power upon this government are treated like they are people, the most powerful in the world, who believe paying-off the government is the acceptable way to do business. A Government controlled by corporations, Dynasty families, and the Ultra-wealthy in any dictionary are the epitome of Fascism, and I would love to garner enough attention to debate this matter with anyone, including Fox News who I know distort the facts to serve the Bush administration and Rupert Murdoch, however the facts are on my side - and there simply isn’t a logical or legal explanation that can even be considered, unless it involves the concept of the “unitary Executive” which in plain English is a damn dictator! (Interesting. The Wikopedia entry on the “Unitary Executive” is essentially blank. Now we’ll see who gets to write this explanation, and I’m going to offer to take-on the job.
Segment two will address operation Falcon and contain messages for our National Guard, our intelligence services, the armed forces, and local and state law enforcement agencies whom are being trained to conduct a massive sweep in the dead of night to corral all of those whom this criminal government believe are “enemies of the state” - when in reality, if they seek the real enemy, they only have to gaze upon themselves in the nearest mirror.
I’m going to urge everyone to send their personal comments and request that this matter be brought-up in the media sources I offered links to in the hopes that this matter will get some airtime., possibly in a round table debate. The general public needs to know about these issues so they have the opportunity to act, and we could make that happen by spreading the word in anyway we can. Forwarding this article via email and adding your comments also speak volumes. As I’ve said in other articles, if someone has a better idea, then please, make a comment and we’ll discuss it, but my thoughts on this matter is that it’s serious enough that it needs to be addressed almost immediately - so if you have a better solution than mine, let’s discuss and make the necessary changes. A lot of us are going to carry much of the load, but no matter how you look it it, is a cause that makes many others look small. Also, if it comes up in a debate, I don’t want Democrats debating in behalf of an ideology the don’t share. I’m tired of “political correctness” and I want someone from the progressive,Liberal/or Independent side that will represent this issue with straight-forward talk minus the political rhetoric in almost any matter that is discussed in Washington, and who the tenacity and presence of mind to answer the right-wing commenter’s to appear biased and ignorant of the true facts that are driving this nation.
I began a series of articles back in 2005 that delved into the situation in Iraq, and specifically stated that our intent on invading Iraq was a precursor to an eventual attack on Iran. I’m not a well-known Political Commentator, and while I did note an occasional visitor from Iran, they were few and far in between; ever since I wrote Attack On Iran Slated For October 15th, Prepare For Disaster those numbers have changed drastically, and just this month we’ve received a 1,000 % increase of hits originating from Iran, a marked increase in the readership of this site from your country. Those are only the visits that we could verify, however know that many more than that have been logged by other programs. It seems that this small article has been read through-out the Middle-east and Europe, and now, Iran and other countries I never knew frequented this Blog are regular visitors.
As you have noted from previous articles, I am against a preemptive strike against your country by this administration, and sincerely believe that diplomacy, sanctions, and the internal politics of Iran, given enough time, will positively impact the current controversy in regard Iran’s nuclear issues with most of the free world. Too many people in the United States are unaware that the youth of Iran is very supportive of the United States, and their admiration and support was easy to see by their western-style haircuts, clothes, music, and even the concept of being free enough to indulge themselves in free expression, a right that is inherent in the United States, although under fire at the moment, just as it is in Iran.
I write these articles because I believe increasing the awareness of the general public is tantamount in the fight to stave-off war with Iran - and while I’m dead-set against an attack on Iran by the Bush administration, this cannot be construed as me supporting you - which I don’t, but can be viewed as me supporting the people of Iran, just as I do those here in America. There isn’t any question that when the world at large views you and President Bush, not necessarily here in the US or Iran, but even more so beyond our borders, they see two tyrants attempting to justify their actions - when both sides have made grave errors, and there is no justification for the behavior of either nation. This is a case of the “pot calling the kettle black”, as both of you have many of the same characteristics.
You ran on a platform targeting the economically challenged and campaigned with promises of a brighter economic future for those who were experiencing hard times, an audience that desperately needed help, and they placed their trust and votes in you, only to become disillusioned and witness their situations becoming worse, not better.
Ahmadinejad, a hardline conservative and Revolutionary Guard veteran, mounted a surprisingly strong challenge with a populist message aimed at the economically disadvantaged. He promised to strengthen social safety nets, offer subsidized food and housing for the poor, and institute monthly stipends for citizens. Much of Ahmadinejad’s support in the first round of voting came from poorer areas such as South Tehran. MUCH MORE
From what I’ve been able to ascertain, the Iranian economy worsens by the day, gas prices are rising, and the poor and disadvantaged are suffering worse now then before you took office:
Despite its continued bluster on nuclear issues, Iran is discovering that there are costs to be paid for maintaining its confrontational stance. Pressure from Washington to isolate Tehran financially has already succeeded in removing or significantly reducing such major European banks as Credit Suisse and UBS from the Iranian scene. Now several large German institutions are preparing to leave as well. Over the last few months Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank have withdrawn investments. Dresdner Bank has announced it will cancel operations within Iran altogether. It is believed that these banks fear losing U.S. business if they continue to operate in Iran. MORE
But there is also a second, potentially more powerful, element. Since September 2006, US officials have been traveling the world talking to banks and company bosses. They aim to persuade business to voluntarily abandon or scale back all dealings with Iran.
Mr Levey, who is spearheading the Treasury’s campaign, insists he is already getting results.
“There is significant evidence that it’s working in the sense that Iranian business is being subjected to greater scrutiny and it’s more difficult for them to operate,” he says.
“A number of major financial institutions have cut off doing business with certain Iranian banks or with Iran entirely.” MORE
The above information reflects pressure exerted by the US designed to force Iran into accepting the policies of the IEAA. The financial troubles began in Iran prior to those sanctions, and President Ahmadinejad needs to explain to his own people, as well as the world, why he has driven Iran back into the stone-age of social enlightenment, and instead of helping those he vowed to help, President Ahmadinejad has made their conditions worse by spending Iran’s wealth on nuclear facilities, advanced weapons systems, and financial and logistical aid to known terrorist groups.
We in the European and Western nations who drink from the fountain of freedom, albeit diminished, find it hard to understand a society that murders those who exhibit a different different sexual preference than that of what is called for in radical Islam; we fail to understand why you have worked relentlessly to stamp-out any showing of western values in your own nation, and have actually arrested and persecuted those who didn’t follow your draconian dress and hair policies. The “morality police” are real in Iran, and many fear Americans will soon feel the heel of religious oppression via a Supreme Court that has been stacked with conservative Justices.
Iran is a nation rich in natural resources, mainly oil, yet you have built few, if any new refineries to ease the gas crunch in your nation, and the people of Iran do not benefit from Iran’s considerable wealth; armies and weapons are expensive, as are nuclear facilities and the constant financial support you offer to terrorist groups in Lebanon, Iraq, and the Palestinians… Why is it so important to ferment unrest and attempt to project Iran’s considerable local power upon others while allowing the Iranian people to suffer? The same question must be answered by President Bush, as Americans are also beginning to suffer from these endless wars. The people of the United States and Iran have similar goals, and that is to return their nations to what they were before you or Bush’s election (sic). (Again, similarities exist in your election and that of the Bush administration; Bush was “placed” in office in 2000 by the US Supreme Court, and your election was alleged to have been aided by illegal acts ordered by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and carried-out by the Revolutionary Guard:
IRAN: RUNNING TOWARD THE GASOLINE DUMP WITH A LIT MATCH
(Excerpts)
Ever since fanatical Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was installed by the Guardian Council last June via a questionable election, nearly every step taken by the former Commander of the Revolutionary Guard’s foreign assassination outfit has been designed to either solidify his hold on power by purging those in the Iranian government deemed not “revolutionary” enough or making it clear that he seeks confrontation with the west and Israel over the Iranian nuclear program.
Many analysts questioned Ahmadinejad’s victory in the runoff election against long time Iranian politico Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani whose loss to the little known former mayor of Tehran occurred under suspicious circumstances. Prior to the run-off, there were several charges of corruption, including the unleashing of 300,000 Revolutionary Guards to mobilize support for Ahmadinejad. Two newspapers who dared to print a letter outlining the charges from a reformist politician were summarily shut down. Then, in the subsequent run-off between Rafsanjani and Ahmadinejad, ballot box irregularities were reported as a sizable segment of the population boycotted the election. Polling places that were deserted on the day of the election ended up showing thousands of ballots cast for the former hard-line mayor.
It is important to understand that the President of Iran is on a very short leash. His decisions must be ratified by Iran’s Supreme Leader who also controls the ruling Guardian Council which has absolute veto power over laws passed by the Iranian parliament as well as access to the big stick in Iranian society; the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). The Council is made up of 6 clerical members and 6 lawyers, all of whom are appointed by the Supreme Leader. The Council also has absolute authority in matters involving elections, determining who can run and, as we have seen, who wins and who loses. MORE
As we move on to the crux of the issue that has the European community, several Arab states, Israel, and the United States demanding an explanation of and a halt to Iran enriching uranium, Iran has cast its own shadow of doubt on her nuclear ambitions, and the aforementioned countries have every right to question a program you insist is peaceful; for eighteen years, Iran’s nuclear program was hidden from the rest of the world, and by running a covert nuclear program, Iran effectively demonstrated they were attempting to skirt International treaties and hide their nuclear ambitions - and that action in itself does nothing to bolster an air of trust, which is what Iran is requesting that all of the nations do, without any viable rationale or evidence that your programs are actually peaceful:
History
Iran’s interest in nuclear technology predates the Islamic revolution of 1979. Iran’s revolutionaries forced most western trained scientists, engineers and managers out of Iran, greatly slowing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. In the late 1980s, Iran turned to the Soviet Union to restart its civil nuclear program, which at the time centered on the West German designed, but never completed Bushehr nuclear power reactor. Unknown at the time was that in 1985, Iran secretly tapped into the nuclear black market run by the father of Pakistan’s nuclear program – A.Q. Khan. Khan had established a robust network of front companies and clandestine shipments to fuel Pakistan’s own nuclear weapon program. For 18 years, Iran successfully hid – in violation of international law and its voluntary treaty commitments to the International Atomic Energy Agency – its clandestine nuclear procurement and development program. This technology was used to design and begin construction on the Natanz uranium enrichment facility where work resumed on January 9th.
International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards are used in most countries to provide confidence that peaceful facilities are not used for military purposes. This is the case in Europe and Japan, and US and Russian peaceful enrichment facilities are open to IAEA inspection. International confidence – albeit a subjective measure – is high that these countries will not use their peaceful enrichment facilities for the production of weapons.
Iran’s now documented 18-year track record of hiding nuclear facilities, and the behavior of its leaders and security forces provide the international community with much lower confidence in its peaceful intentions. Moreover, Iran currently lacks both the nuclear plants needed to make use of enriched uranium or the domestic stocks of uranium ore to justify the expense of a domestic uranium enrichment program. The existence of a robust and economically competitive international set of enrichment providers casts even further doubt on Iran’s motives for pursuing enrichment on such an accelerated and (previously) secretive basis. MORE
If your nuclear plans are peaceful as you claim, why was your nuclear program hidden from the world for eighteen years? Why did Iran also procure plans to build a nuclear weapon from Pakistan’s A.Q. Khan? The history of Iran’s so-called “peaceful” nuclear enrichment program is suspect at best based on Iran’s questionable activities prior to the discovery of their nuclear program - and it’s unreasonable for the world to accept a song and dance from President Ahmadinejad that the program is entirely peaceful until the IEAA is allowed to continue inspections throughout Iran; visiting sites that have been preprepared for international view is nothing more than an open-house into those programs that do comply with IEAA guidelines, however, until Iran allows the IEAA unfettered access to Iran in general, and is able to follow-up on any leads into suspected sites that could be used to produce weapons, the West, Israel, and the European community will remain skeptical of Iran’s intentions, and in this writer’s opinion the skepticism is well deserved.
President Ahmadinejad, the majority of the people in the United States do not favor a preemptive strike against your country, but there are several issues that Iran constantly skirts, and answers have been slow or downright impossible to receive that pertain to sites that we suspect are still operating in secrecy. I have no hard evidence that Iran is actively attempting to produce a nuclear warhead, and while the suspicions we hear may be political rhetoric with no basis in fact, Iran has made it exceedingly difficult to prove those allegations are false. Transparency in the nuclear cycle, from all of Iran’s nuclear facilities would go a long way to dispel those fears, and now we are faced with a situation where Iran can effectively diffuse the situation by cooperating with the International community - but you and those that control your policies are stubborn, refuse to halt uranium enrichment for a period long enough to successfully negotiate and build the trust we need to end this stalemate and enter a period of progress and understanding.
I’m not a diplomat and lack the ability to speak in guarded political terms, so from here forward I’ll just be blunt, speak my mind as an American citizen, which I am entitled to do - and I’ll do my best to communicate how you can help to end this stalemate, gain the trust of the International community, and how you can affect politics in the United States in a positive manner by acting responsibly and working with us to regain stability in the Middle-East as a whole and again bring Iran into the modern world, at least as much as your restrictive society will allow.
We know you follow American politics very carefully, and I have suspicions that many of your actions are based on a perceived belief that our President, George W. Bush, will not instigate an attack on Iran. Those “suspicions” could be true, however, if millions of Americans themselves also don’t trust Bush and Cheney - that should be a wake-up call to your country that a real danger exists - and as the President of Iran, in my humble opinion, rather than risk the lives of people who voted you into office because of a sense of national pride, wouldn’t it be wise to consider negotiating with a true spirit of diffusing the crisis?
As you know, there is now an impeachment measure in Committee to impeach Vice-President Dick Cheney, and if that measure succeeds, you can believe that Bush will be next. If you are a true leader, value the lives of your countrymen as well as the stability of the Middle-East - then what have you to lose to stop the nuclear enrichment program as we in America work to expel the warmongers from the White House and return our country to sanity, the Rule of Law, and halt the aggression of the Bush administration? Is your pride worth starting a war when it could be stopped by prudent action designed to allow negotiations to proceed in good faith? Are you a leader of the people, or a President that resembles our own, intent on furthering his own twisted agenda rather than one that would lead to peace and stability?
When two bullies square off to fight in a battle that everyone loses in the long run, who is the better man - one that decides to make the other look small by complying with United Nation mandates - or allowing the other bully to let your pride possibly cause the destruction of your entire society? Consider this; if Iran’s nuclear program is indeed peaceful as you state, then make a statement to the world, cease nuclear enrichment temporarily until the IAEE has definite proof that your plans are peaceful - and in the final analysis, if you’re telling the truth, who will emerge as the better leader, you who swallowed his pride and complied with the United Nations, or Mr. Bush and Cheney - who are looking for any excuse they can to start a war with your country? If the IAEE eventually does state unequivocally that Iran’s nuclear program is entirely peaceful, the blow you will deal to a President that has the lowest poll rating in US history will also have to bear the brunt of explaining why he lied again, and only you can make that happen by deescalating the crisis.
It takes two to tango, and while my father is no longer with us, he always stated the better man was the one that walked away from a fight. Which will you be, the better man, or will you continue to defy UN mandates and give Israel or Bush and Cheney an excuse to start World War III - and if you believe that any of us would survive that event, then you too have failed your people, just as Bush and Cheney have failed America and the world in general.
We as a nation are watching the country of Pakistan, a primary ally of the United States, in a state of emergency and now under martial law. This, in my opinion, is a condition that the United States, through thoughtful deployment of our armed forces could have helped to avoid - yet when we had the chance to completely decimate the Taliban and Al Qaeda, your Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, answering to you and Vice-President Dick Cheney - allowed both of the above terrorist entities to escape from Tora Bora by allowing the Afghanistan Military, as ill-trained as they were, to conduct the final mop-up of the remaining insurgents in Afghanistan and the Central Commands refusal to commit the necessary troops to finalize the destruction of Taliban and Al Qaeda elements, which allowed many of them to escape into the northern tribal areas of Pakistan and again become a threat to US interests, Pakistan itself, and now the fight in Afghanistan is almost as fierce as it was when we first began.
It is common knowledge that Pakistan has a substantial nuclear arsenal, and by and through the incompetence of the White House and the Department of Defense, then headed by Donald Rumsfeld - we allowed this to happen and instead turned our military might on Iraq, who had no weapons of mass destruction and had absolutely nothing to do with the events that transpired on 9-11.
Present Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney - you have both failed this nation miserably, and as a private citizen that predicted this development in Pakistan, I personally condemn both of you for failing our nation in a time of war. No one yet knows how Pakistan will weather this crisis, but I wholeheartedly support the people of Pakistan that are attempting to stave-off radical Islam, and we as a nation are aware that it was your decisions that allowed this unprecedented spiral of Pakistan into anarchy - and whatever the consequences may be, you both stand responsible for Pakistan’s fate.
Through experience we have learned that radical Islam spreads like a cancer, and through your own words we know this, as well as our continued monitoring of this situation in Pakistan and other nations who are fighting radical Islam. You both state that you support our troops and are attempting to make America safer; by your very actions, which reek of utter incompetence and greed, you have failed the people of the United States, the world, and especially those who trusted your judgment. These events in Pakistan could easily destabilize the Middle-East even more than your actions have already done - and the people of the United States should rise-up in unison and condemn your actions and incompetence.
Please Mr. Bush and Cheney - your time to lead this nation has come and gone; you have demonstrated that you have no respect for our own Constitution, our Bill of Rights, and the Rule of Law. Not only have you violated our own laws and the trust of a nation, in addition to the many international laws and treaties you’ve violated your decisions have negatively impacted several nations throughout the world - and over a million Iraqis and thousands of our own troops now lie dead because of your miscalculations, incompetence, and violation of International Law. If you care for this great nation as you state you do - it’s time for both of you to resign so that we can begin to rebuild this shattered nation, and at the same time, mitigate the damage your administration has caused throughout the world!
America as a nation should rise-up and demand your resignation, and those of us that do not are contributing to the downfall of the country our forefathers fought and died for - something that you refused to do during the Vietnam War, staying comfortably in the US while more then 58,000 of America’s best lost their lives in the Vietnam War. We need a President with the will to guide this nation by and through the tenants as set forth in our constitution - not as they are interpreted by a tyrant and Dictator. I call upon our Congress and the American people to demand your resignations - and if that does not happen forthwith, then it is now the time to begin impeachment proceedings. This nation, nor the world, can stand much more of your incompetence and violation of our sacred laws and spirit of freedom and liberty - and I respectfully call for both of your resignations as a free person and citizen of the United States of America!
William Cormier
Footnote: When I write an editorial of this nature, it is in the hopes that other patriotic Americans will also choose to stand-up against a government the military itself believes “is out of control.” We have reached a point in our history when the “Thought Crime Prevention Bill” will soon come before the Senate, and what that Bill will mean to us that continue to challenge the government remains to be seen. I note, sometimes with great trepidation, that the CIA and other governmental agencies are reading this site - and although I have written nothing that is illegal - I, as well as other individuals that run Blogs, have installed tracking software to get a glimpse of who is reading what we have written. It is often quite unsettling to note that words written that are non-violent and simply request our own government to follow our own laws is being monitored by the government - and it may be simple intimidation, or something much more sinister. None of us that write to further the cause of our constitutional values know exactly what Bush and Cheney are planning, however - when you take into consideration the way the ‘Thought Crime Prevention Bill” is written, it is ominous as best - and at worst, could mean the end of free speech in the United States.
This Bill, above all others, is the greatest assault on free speech and our constitutional guarantees ever presented before Congress, and it enjoys huge bipartisan support - which means that our Congress is still cowed and complicit with the Bush administration. We as Americans must stand-up to repression and tyranny any way we can - and to do otherwise is to stand idly by while our rights and freedoms are very quickly disappearing. Please, join in with the rest of the “Freedom Fighters” and voice your outrage against a government that no longer represents the people - but only pays homage to huge multinational corporations and the dynasty families of America.
Without a question, this is another news item that will never be published in the Mainstream News Media, and as usual, RAW Story has published what is by far, the most explicit and damning assessment of President Bush ever published - and I agree completely with his take on the worst President the United States has ever had in office:
Former Reagan aide: ‘Brownshirt’ Bush among top ‘mass murderers of all time’
08/31/2007 @ 9:55 am Filed by Nick Juliano
President Bush’s apparent plans for a preemptive nuclear strike on Iran will only add to the civilian death toll as a result of US intervention that has placed the president “high on the list of mass murders of all time,” a former aide in President Ronald Reagan’s administration known for strident anti-Bush rhetoric said Friday.
“Bush is too self-righteous to see the dark humor in his denunciations of Iran for threatening ‘the security of nations everywhere’ and of the Iraqi resistance for ‘a vision that rejects tolerance, crushes all dissent, and justifies the murder of innocent men, women, and children in the pursuit of political power,’” writes Paul Craig Roberts, a former assistant secretary of the Treasury. “Those are precisely the words that most of the world applies to Bush and his Brownshirt administration.”
Roberts, who has emerged as a fierce critic of Bush’s war policies, accused the president of ignoring habeas corpus and the Geneva Conventions, justifying torture and demonizing critics as anti-American.
“Bush … is responsible, according to Information Clearing House, for over one million deaths of Iraqi civilians, which puts Bush high on the list of mass murderers of all time,” Roberts writes in a column published Friday on antiwar.com. “The vast majority of ‘kills’ by the US military in Iraq and Afghanistan are civilians.” MUCH MORE
Coming from a former Republican aide to Ronald Reagan, I’d say the above assessment of President Bush is damning enough to justify an immediate impeachment of this entire administration - not as a political weapon or for partisan gain, but to fulfill our responsibility as American citizens to at least attempt to save the many lives that now hang in the balance of Bush’s insane quest to attack Iran, as spelled-out further down in the article. One quote caught my attention, and in a nutshell, clearly spell-out the danger that Bush and Cheney pose to the United States and the world as a whole:
“Encouraged by the indifference of both the American media and Christian churches to the massive casualties inflicted on Iraqi civilians, the Bush administration will not be deterred by the prospect of its air attacks inflicting massive casualties on Iranian civilians. … Clearly, turning the Muslim Middle East into a wasteland is the Bush policy,” Roberts writes. “For Bush, civilian casualties are a non-issue. Hegemony uber alles.” (Emphasis added)
If you don’t believe this President is dangerous and poses the greatest national security risk the United States has ever faced, then you haven’t been listening and reading all of the evidence that our complicit Mainstream News Media refuses to publish - and as patriotic Americans, we should all DEMAND that the MSM quit publishing propaganda and “fluff” stories, and for a change, try telling the truth so we can awaken the rest of America and rid ourselves of who the Russians’ call “The Master of Disaster”!
Last night I was watching the “Daily Show” with Jon Stewart, which I never miss, and then this morning came across a tribute to Mr. Stuart on the Smirking Chimp - and because of the contribution Jon Stewart has made toward educating a politically naive America - I felt it appropriate to expand on the original thought expressed so eloquently at the Chimp:
Thank you, Jon Stewart
by Administrator1
In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, we were a nation in shock, and we were grieving. The unthinkable had happened. Thousands of our citizens were dead as a result of a terrorist act. Most of us didn’t know how to express our feelings, so we turned to television where we were exposed repeatedly to planes hitting the towers.
Time moved on, but there was a surreal quality about it. Overwhelmed, we tried to go through our daily routine despite feelings of a vulnerability which we had never before felt.
On Thursday, September 20, 2001, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart returned. Many tuned in wondering perhaps how this show could continue. What could Jon Stewart, the king of satire, possibly have to say to us at a time like this?
Jon’s opening segment was noticeably subdued from the start as many of his regular listeners could tell. What followed was a genuine outpouring of grief mixed with a powerful message of hope. Jon Stewart showed his audience that night that it was okay to grieve. But he didn’t leave it at that. He provided a antidote to the despair. He gave us the courage to carry on. MORE
None of us know how the Bush/Cheney march toward fascism and dictatorship will end - but if “the people” actually prevail and by some miracle people actually rise-up and fight for their country and freedom - Jon Stewart will go down in history as one of the catalysts that helped to wake-up America’s sleeping electorate!
I’m not taking anything away from many of the brilliant writer’s that constantly uncover and report on the crimes perpetrated by Bush and Cheney, but their audience is limited to those that read the many Progressive/Liberal Blogs - and quite frankly, it’s far too little to get Americans off their proverbial arses; as long as we have a complicit MSM and a population that refuses to seek their own answers, and remain content being force-fed propaganda and spin from the MSM - we have little hope of stopping the inexorable march toward fascism and a total collapse of our society as we know it.
America would have remained in her deep slumber long enough for the Neo-cons to completely destroy our country without so much as a whimper of indignation and outrage from a complacent population; Americans know something is desperately wrong, however many now come home too tired from the stress and strain of trying to survive on lower wages, often working two jobs to make-up for the one that was outsourced to China, higher gas prices, and food prices that are rising in double-digit numbers!
Prices for key foods are rising sharply
By Kevin G. Hall | McClatchy Newspapers
Already stung by a two-year rise in gasoline prices, American consumers now face sharply higher prices for foods they can’t do without. This little-known fact may go a long way to explaining why, despite healthy job statistics, Americans remain glum about the economy.
Meeting with economic writers last week, President Bush dismissed several polls that show Americans are down on the economy. He expressed surprise that inflation is one of the stated concerns.
“They cite inflation?” Bush asked, adding that, “I happen to believe the war has clouded a lot of people’s sense of optimism.”
But the inflation numbers reveal the extent to which lower- and middle-income Americans are being pinched.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said in its July inflation report that egg prices are 33.7 percent higher than they were in July 2006. Over the same period, according to the department’s consumer price index, whole milk was up 21.1 percent; fresh chicken 8.4 percent; navel oranges 13.6 percent; apples 8.7 percent. Dried beans were up 11.5 percent, and white bread just missed double-digit growth, rising by 8.8 percent. MORE
Even as the average American struggles with rising prices across the board, a sense of hopelessness and despair enters into their psyche - and big Pharma capitalizes on a nation that is depressed to the extent that “anti-depressants” are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in this nation. In short, Americans are depressed as we watch our children die in Iraq/Afghanistan - and Mom and Dad come home exhausted and glum after another day of watching their buying power dwindle - while the wealthy are making themselves uber-rich as they profit from our loss and misery.
Enter stage-left the Daily Show and the brilliance of Jon Stewart - and through comedy and satire, Mr. Stuart has accomplished what all of us on the Blogosphere have been trying to do since Bush came into power - awakening America and exposing Bush’s crimes and absurdities for what they really are - while making us laugh and offering an escape from the reality of a nation which is literally falling-apart! Even as Mom and Dad laugh their asses off at Jon’s brand of humor and satire - his message, albeit parsed in sarcasm and hilarity, is slowly educating his viewers on many of the most pressing political issues we face. Like it or not, viewers that usually don’t pay any attention to politics, or “the state of our nation” are being hit in the face with the harsh reality of a declining democracy, and even the possibility of Bush declaring martial law - and that message is beginning to make a difference!
I just finished watching an episode where Jon interviewed Author Stephen Hayes on his new book “Cheney” - and in just five minutes or so - exposed the author and “Cheney” for the hypocrites they are, essentially debunking the author’s claim that somehow, Vice-President Dick Cheney was just a “regular guy” who was grossly misunderstood… After Jon Stewart finished with Stephen Hayes - in just five to ten minutes, he effectively communicated that Mr. Hayes’ opinion of Cheney was flawed, and in doing so - alerted the public that the new book “Cheney” was simply more political spin and garbage!
That is the genius of the Daily Show and Jon Stewart - educating the viewer while making him/her laugh their arses off, and when the laughing is over - the viewer is acutely aware that indeed, something, if not everything, is rotten in the White House and Congress.
It’s been a long road trying to alert the majority of Americans that our President and Vice-President are cold-blooded killers, possibly sociopaths and traitors - but that trend is finally changing - and my hat’s off to Jon Stewart and the courage he exhibits on a daily basis; factor in the “Colbert Report” and “Little Bush” which also help to educate the people through humor and satire - and we have the beginning of the people of this nation waking-up to the fact that we’ve all been duped - and instead of our leadership standing-up for the constitution and American principles, they are engaged in selling-out our country and destroying whatever they can of the American Dream, which has now turned into a nightmare for all that are aware that the Neo-cons want to make Bush America’s first “President for Life” - and admit that destroying our democracy is tantamount in achieving their dreams of fascism and tyranny.
Even for me, this is hard to believe! What did the “average American” do to deserve this? Why does our government believe that the American population itself is the “enemy”, and then violates our constitutional rights in the name of national security? In the last year, the United States has morphed into a Police State - with a President and Vice-President that appear to hate anyone that isn’t in their circle of wealthy friends or the corporations that prop-up the Bush administration through their manipulation of the Mainstream News Media.
Rupert Murdoch has violated our anti-trust laws, as well as Wal-Mart, AT&T, and a host of other corporations - and the Congress and President do nothing to enforce laws that are already on our books. They refuse to enforce immigration laws, spit on the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and then thumb their nose at the world by violating the Geneva Convention as it pertains to torture and the treatment of prisoners of war. What’s next, implanting chips into our bodies to keep better track of us? When will Washington realize that “we are the people” - that this is OUR country, not the exclusive playground and killing fields of the corporate elite and America’s dynasty families that have already attempted to overthrow our government in 1933! LINK
I’ll admit that this latest assault on our freedom and civil liberties is unparalleled, even for the Bush administration! Read the below story and ask yourselves what each of as individuals are going to do to stop our rapid decent into tyranny and dictatorship:
US spy satellites to be used on Americans
08/15/2007 @ 8:35 am Filed by Nick Juliano
Local and federal agencies are to have vastly expanded access to information gathered from spy satellites in the U.S., the Wall Street Journal reports.
Information from “some of the U.S.’s most powerful intelligence-gathering tools” will soon be at the disposal of a wide array of law enforcement agencies at all levels of government, reports Robert Block in the Journal Wednesday. Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell decided to increase access to the spy data earlier this year and asked Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to facilitate access to the spy data by civilian agencies and law enforcement.
Previously, access to only the most basic spy-satellite data was limited to a handful of federal civilian agencies, such as NASA and the US Geological Survey, which used the images for scientific and environmental study.
The move to turn spy satellites on American citizens raises legal questions because the use of such data for law enforcement is “largely uncharted territory.” Even the officials behind the move were unsure of its legal implications, the Journal reports.
“There is little if any policy, guidance or procedures regarding the collection, exploitation and dissemination of domestic MASINT,” noted a 2005 study from the US intelligence community, which recommended access to spy satellites. MASINT, or Measurement and Signatures Intelligence, is a particular kind of spy-satellite data that would become available to law enforcement for the first time. MORE
There comes a time when the people themselves have to take matters into their own hands! Now that we know Congress is either too cowardly, or being bribed or blackmailed to the extent they won’t represent the people who placed them in office - there is nothing left between America turning into a full-fledged dictatorship except “we the people” - and so far, our track record for protests and action is dismal at best - and downright disgusting as it pertains to us standing-up for our rights.
Remember who we are, the rich heritage our forefathers left us, and then ask why none of us will put forth the effort and sacrifice to keep America free? If we do not take to the streets and rock Washington with a series of protests, sit-ins, and every other legal means we have of protest - The United States as we know it will only be a memory, replaced by the nightmare of Tyranny and fascism - compliments of the Bush family and many of America’s oldest and richest corporations. It makes you wonder if we would be facing the loss of our freedom and civil rights if they would have prosecuted and imprisoned/executed those who attempted to overthrow our government in 1933 - instead of caving-in to their wealth and essentially giving them a free-ride with no punishment for attempting to overthrow our government. THIS is what inaction and failing to apply the law equally does to a democratic society - and some would say it’s our own fault for allowing Bush to get this far without any meaningful action by Congress or the people. Unfortunately, I am inclined to agree; we reap what we sow!
There’s a perceptible change in the mood of the Internet in regard the Bush administration. It’s sad, but reading the many articles and posts, and especially delving into the comments of each article reveal an America that is beginning to express their fear and raw distrust for Bush and Cheney. Some of the articles paint a picture of a nation living in fear of its President, and for me, that a first in United States history!
You can tell the people are disgusted, as every editorial and article you read almost universally condemns Congress expanding President Bush’s power to illegally spy on Americans, most of whom have absolutely no ties to terrorism. Now, he doesn’t even need a court’s approval… What message did this send to the rest of the world, those whose calls are routed through some of our main telecom switches?
At what exact time did the United States of America gain the legal authority to spy on virtually any international call that is routed through our system? What message does this send to other nations whose rights we are indiscriminately violating? It would seem that many of their fears may be well-founded – and tensions are increasing across the international board as Bush ratchets-up the illegal eavesdropping and continues to treat his neighbors with contempt and disrespect. We are clearly viewed as an “aggressor” in many parts of the world – a title that may be justified to a certain extent, and it’s escalating an arms race and military build-up world-wide.
The disappointment is heavy in the air, and no matter where I turned, there was another negative editorial by a host of prominent Mainstream New Papers.
Capitol Hill Blue was especially critical with an excellent story – and comments that show the true frustration of many Americans:
Failed Congress leaves town in disgrace
By DOUG THOMPSON
The Democrats who came to power with so much hype and fanfare after the 2006 mid-term elections limped out of Washington Sunday, battered and bruised from multiple losses to the most unpopular President in modern American history.
After seven months of failure after failure, the Democratic Congress compounded their many errors by passing a far-reaching bill that allows Bush to spy at will on Americans without court approval. All he needs is a sign off by his lackluster and flawed Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales.
The Democrats, of course, will spin their failures as some measure of success against high odds and will point to high profile bills like raising the minimum wage to bolstering U.S. security and expanding children’s health care.
But their main promise — to bring the troops home from Iraq — remain a broken pact with American voters and even with Republican defections from the President’s unpopular war, the Democrats lack the votes or the fortitude to stand up to Bush on his failed Iraq policy.
The spin started early Sunday with Democrats pointing to claimed victories and ignoring their many losses. MORE
Make sure and read the comments associated with the above article, and others I’m including for your perusal. RAW Story reported today there was a major security breach at the Los Alamos National Laboratory – and believe me, it wasn’t a minor breach!
Nuke weapons lab reports another major security breach
08/07/2007 @ 9:46 am Filed by Michael Roston
A government watchdog group warns that New Mexico’s Los Alamos National Laboratory, one of the nation’s nuclear weapons design laboratories, has again experienced a security failure of ‘the most serious’ level.
“An incident involving the unauthorized release of classified data via email occurred last week at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL),” reported a press release Monday from the Project on Government Oversight (POGO). “The incident…is rated among ‘the most serious threats to national security.’”
However, POGO also noted that the lab had attempted to change the classification of the security breach in order to minimize it. MORE
Again, as you read the comments associated with this story, it reveals more fear of the government, and each day, it appears that more and more Americans believe this government is capable of a false-flag attack within the continental United States upon its own citizens. What has become of our country when Americans are forced to live in fear of their own President?
On the Smirking Chimp, there are several excellent articles that point out the real possibility of Bush/Cheney declaring martial law – and they are respected writers who provide an excellent spot-on analysis of the situation:
All of the above articles are excellent, and demonstrate through logic and a thorough analysis of Bush’s recent Executive order(s) – so secret that senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee DeFazio has been denied access to Bush’s disaster plan. What is so secret that Democratic members of Congress are denied access to material that it is their mandated duty as Congressmen to provide oversight thereof? LINK
Is this what we have to look forward to in America? Why are we as a people allowing ourselves to live in fear? Bush’s foreign policy has the entire world on edge, as well as growing numbers of US citizens. More Americans are moving to Canada LINK than ever before, and we all know why they are moving; it’s interesting to note that it’s many of the intellectuals and those of higher education that are leaving. Perhaps they have already understood what too many of us are ignoring and failing to react to ourselves. Freedom, once tasted and embedded in our psyche, is unacceptable to lose, even if it means escaping to another country in advance of the coming fray. Many more are speaking of staying-on to fight rather than lie-down like our Congress is, and the tension seems to grow by the day. Where’s the outrage?
The writing is on the wall. We as a nation have never allowed ourselves to live in fear; we have fought and died all over the world in the pursuit of liberty and freedom throughout our history – and now it’s possible we face our worst enemy, and still – we remain essentially silent while our freedoms and rights are being stripped away at a remarkable pace, right before our eyes – and Congress is too cowardly to stand-up and protect those who elected them to office.
Get mad! But most of all, start organizing. I’m still astounded that during the KOS Convention, a cohesive plan wasn’t developed for all of the Bloggers’ to unite and try and organize the people. Congress has proved they will not stand up for the people, so now it’s up to us. There isn’t anyone left – and unless we wake-up and organize and speak with one voice, the many scenarios described in the above articles and comments could soon become a reality. Make the decision to do something about it yourself – and implore everyone you know to do the same. We owe it to ourselves, and we owe it to the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and all of those that died before us defending its principles.
Slowly but surely, America is waking-up to the fact that President Bush and Dick Cheney are supporting Alberto Gonzales for only one reason – if Gonzo is impeached, resigns, or is otherwise removed from office, the impeachment of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney is almost a certainty. Time Magazine, in a recent article, stunned me with their honesty and assessment of the current situation – and all of us should take heed and concentrate on getting Gonzales out of office by any and all legal means at our disposal! Get rid of Gonzales, and we have a chance at saving our Democratic Republic; allow him to stay and say good-bye to Democracy and freedom.
Time Magazine listed three reasons why Bush and Cheney are protecting Gonzales – and none of them have to do with his legal expertise, or ability to run the Justice Department in a non-partisan manner. In short, it would appear that Gonzales is aiding and abetting high treason and the undoing of our system of checks and balances:
Why Bush Won’t Ax Gonzales
(Excepts from the article)
1. Gonzales is all that stands between the White House and special prosecutors. As dicey as things are for Bush right now, his advisers know that they could get much worse. In private, Democrats say that if Gonzales did step down, his replacement would be required to agree to an independent investigation of Gonzales’ tenure in order to be confirmed by the Senate.
Without Gonzales at the helm, the Justice Department would be more likely to approve requests for investigations into White House activities on everything from misuse of prewar Iraq intelligence to allegations of political interference in tobacco litigation. And the DOJ could be less likely to block contempt charges against former White House aides who have refused to testify before Congress. “Bush needs someone at Justice who’s going to watch the White House’s back,” says a Senate Democratic Judiciary Committee staffer. If Gonzales steps down, Bush would lose his most reliable shield.
Gonzales remains the last line of defense protecting Bush, Rove and other top White House officials from the personal consequences of litigation. A high-profile probe would hobble the White House politically, and could mean sky-high legal bills and turmoil for Bush’s closest aides.
Keeping Gonzales isn’t cost-free. But for now, Bush seems to have decided that the importance of running out the clock on investigations by keeping his loyal Attorney General in place is worth any amount of criticism. MORE
This is a must-read article for anyone that is attempting to understand why the Democrats are essentially ineffectual and helpless in conducting oversight of this administration; Congress’s approval ratings are almost as low as that of Bush and Cheney – but in all honesty, as long as Bush controls the Justice Department through a loyal but corrupt Attorney General, the Democrat’s hands are tied – illegally and unethically, by a Presidency that is closing-in on becoming a full-fledged dictatorship.
It is this author’s opinion that the Bush administration’s key players, including President Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney – could all be prosecuted under the RICO statute(s), which was enacted to prosecute and help eliminate organized crime.
9-110.100 Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO)
On October 15, 1970, the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970 became law. Title IX of the Act is the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute (18 U.S.C. §§ 1961-1968), commonly referred to as the “RICO” statute. The purpose of the RICO statute is “the elimination of the infiltration of organized crime and racketeering into legitimate organizations operating in interstate commerce.” S.Rep. No. 617, 91st Cong., 1st Sess. 76 (1969). However, the statute is sufficiently broad to encompass illegal activities relating to any enterprise affecting interstate or foreign commerce.
Section 1961(10) of Title 18 provides that the Attorney General may designate any department or agency to conduct investigations authorized by the RICO statute and such department or agency may use the investigative provisions of the statute or the investigative power of such department or agency otherwise conferred by law. Absent a specific designation by the Attorney General, jurisdiction to conduct investigations for violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1962 lies with the agency having jurisdiction over the violations constituting the pattern of racketeering activity listed in 18 U.S.C. § 1961.
9-110.200 RICO Guidelines Preface
The decision to institute a federal criminal prosecution involves balancing society’s interest in effective law enforcement against the consequences for the accused. Utilization of the RICO statute, more so than most other federal criminal sanctions, requires particularly careful and reasoned application, because, among other things, RICO incorporates certain state crimes. One purpose of these guidelines is to reemphasize the principle that the primary responsibility for enforcing state laws rests with the state concerned. Despite the broad statutory language of RICO and the legislative intent that the statute “. . . shall be liberally construed to effectuate its remedial purpose,” it is the policy of the Criminal Division that RICO be selectively and uniformly used. It is the purpose of these guidelines to make it clear that not every proposed RICO charge that meets the technical requirements of a RICO violation will be approved. Further, the Criminal Division will not approve “imaginative” prosecutions under RICO which are far afield from the congressional purpose of the RICO statute. A RICO count which merely duplicates the elements of proof of traditional Hobbs Act, Travel Act, mail fraud, wire fraud, gambling or controlled substances cases, will not be approved unless it serves some special RICO purpose. Only in exceptional circumstances will approval be granted when RICO is sought merely to serve some evidentiary purpose.
These guidelines provide only internal Department of Justice guidance. They are not intended to, do not, and may not be relied upon to create any rights, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law by any party in any matter civil or criminal. Nor are any limitations hereby placed on otherwise lawful litigative prerogatives of the Department of Justice.MORE
For a comprehensive understanding of the crimes the Bush administration has perpetrated against the citizens of the United States – and the havoc this tyrant and his cabal of traitors have caused at home and abroad, read the topics for impeachment and an excellent synopsis of the many crimes that Bush and his co-conspirator’s are guilty of – some of which equate to treason and subversion:
Summary of Known Impeachable Offenses
Click on the link for more details.
1. Bush lied to Congress and the American public about the reasons for invading Iraq.
2. Bush conducted illegal wiretaps of American citizens.
3. Bush violated the Geneva Convention by torturing prisoners of war.
4. Bush violated International Law by invading a sovereign country for illegal purposes.
5. Bush held prisoners without formal charges and without legal representation. [CNN] See also our page on “Grounds for Impeachment”. Other Illegal Actions
These lesser crimes should not be ignored but may distract us from the more serious crimes above.
1. Bush illegally used government funds for domestic political propaganda related to the administration’s Medicare package, paying commentator Armstrong Williams, etc. [NYT, requires free registration] TruthOut: [1] [2] [3]
2. Bush used uniformed military personnel for Republican party political purposes. [TalkingPointsMemo] [Coloradoan] MUCH MORE!
Keep in mind that these are the “known” impeachable offenses – which upon investigation and implementation of the RICO Act would likely grow exponentially. This is without doubt actionable under RICO – as these statute(s) were enacted to allow prosecutors wide latitude and investigative tools in investigating and prosecuting organized crime; what could be more fitting than applying the law to the Bush Crime Family? Do not forget that the Bush family was involved in an attempted Coup against our country in 1933, so today’s contempt of our Constitution and Rule of Law dates back decades for the Bush family – so this won’t be the first “Bush” that was guilty of treason against the United State of America! LINK
Call and write your legislators while they are on vacation and demand that Gonzales be impeached and/or prosecuted – and if enough Americans push Congress to rid the Justice Department of one of Bush’s primary “Consigliere’s”, it’s possible that we may still be able to save America from tyranny and fascism.
I still think one of the best moments in the Post's excellent Dick Cheney series (much of which, I am ashamed to admit, I have not yet read due to conference craziness) came in its first installment:
In his Park Avenue corner suite at Cerberus Global Investments, Dan Quayle recalled the moment he learned how much his old job had changed. Cheney had just taken the oath of office, and Quayle paid a visit to offer advice from one vice president to another.
"I said, 'Dick, you know, you're going to be doing a lot of this international traveling, you're going to be doing all this political fundraising . . . you'll be going to the funerals,' " Quayle said in an interview earlier this year. "I mean, this is what vice presidents do. I said, 'We've all done it.' "
Cheney "got that little smile," Quayle said, and replied, "I have a different understanding with the president."
Mona Charen, writing on National Review's blog, complains about the directness of a Washington Post headline this morning:
The Post’s headline on its Cheney series this morning (in the print, not online edition) is stunning: “The Unseen Path to Cruelty.” I admit that I haven’t read the entire article (life is too busy and too short to spend valuable time reading 200,000 word Post articles) but I’ve read enough to understand that today’s installment concerns the treatment of detainees. “Cruelty?” That is much too freighted a word to appear in a news headline.
Or is it? There are some limits to engaging in media criticism based solely on headlines.
In my earlier post on the matter, I lamented how abstracted this conviction is from the biggest crimes of the administration. While the increasingly right-wing Wall Street Journal OpinionJournal is already fawning for Libby to be pardoned, arguing he shouldn't be punished for the mistakes of the entire administration, other voices are suggesting the administration itself is impacted as a consequence of the verdict.
"The trial has been death by 1,000 cuts for Cheney. It’s hurt him inside the administration. It’s hurt him with the Congress, and it’s hurt his stature around the world because it has shown a lot of the inner workings of the White House. It peeled the bark right off the way they operate."
-- Republican strategist Scott Reed, quoted by the New York Times, on the Scooter Libby trial.
"Former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was convicted today of obstruction, perjury and lying to the FBI in an investigation into the leak of a CIA operative's identity.
Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was accused of lying and obstructing the investigation into the 2003 leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity to reporters.He was acquitted of one count of lying to the FBI.Libby had little reaction to the verdict. He stood expressionless as the jury left the room."
Libby's specific offenses appear to involve intentional deceit of the federal grand jury investigating the Plame leak, falsely describing his conversation with Tim Russert to FBI agents, perjury over this matter in court, and a second count of perjury regarding conversations with other reporters. The second count of making a false statement, involving Time reporter Matt Cooper, was met with acquittal.
While Libby faces a maximum of 25 years in prison and $1 million in fines, he has in the meantime been released on his own recognizance. Though this is a great victory in beginning to uncover the depth of deception within the Bush administration, it is sad to note that this case is merely tangential to the most significant fraud in recent American history. Stemming from the infamous State of the Union claim that Iraq sought uranium from Niger, this conviction is still so many steps removed from the (unlikely) prosecution of the architects of this war who deliberately misled the American people.
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