How Will The GOP Spin General Odom

We’ve all become accustom to Bush and the GOP calling us defeatist, non patriotic and traitors regarding our opposition to Iraq.  Well let’s see how Bush and the GOP spin General Odom’s statements against Iraq. Will the General suddenly be classified as a traitor?

From the Gavel:  “To put this in a simple army metaphor, the Commander-in-Chief seems to have gone AWOL, that is ‘absent without leave.’ He neither acts nor talks as though he is in charge. Rather, he engages in tit-for-tat games…I hope the President seizes this moment for a basic change in course and signs the bill the Congress has sent him. I will respect him greatly for such a rare act of courage, and so too, I suspect, will most Americans.”
- Lieutenant General William E. Odom

Lieutenant General William E. Odom, U.S. Army (Ret.) has served as Director of the National Security Agency and Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, the Army’s senior intelligence officer. In his address, General Odom discusses why he believes President Bush should sign the conference report on the Iraq Accountability Act.

Got Anymore Shoddy Solutions for NOLA?

Congress appropriated $5.7 billion to rebuild New Orleans’ flood protection systems.
Thanks to the Associated Press for revealing that when the Army Corps of Engineers solicited bids for drainage pumps for New Orleans, it copied the specifications — typos and all — from the catalog of the same manufacturer that they awarded the $32 million contract to. GAO is looking in to this and will not comment.
The defective pumps were supplied by Moving Water Industries Corp. of Deerfield Beach, Fla., and installed at NOLA canals before the start of the 2006 hurricane season.
Oh my, MWI employed former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, (President Bush‘s brother), to market its pumps during the 1980s, and top MWI officials have been major contributors to the Republican Party.
The Army Corps of Engineers’ mea culpa is shallow considering the job was obviously rigged for the benefit of a certain company (by a politically connected insider like Jeb).
In May 2006 a Corp Inspector warned that the pumps were faulty.
Then a whistle-blower, Bob Purcell, who was an FPI salesman at the time the bids were taken, asked the Corp, “Are you folks aware that the specifications that you folks put out was a copy of the specifications in the MWI catalog?”
Purcell complained “We were forced to meet someone else’s specifications in entirety.” He said the contract consultants did not cooperate with FPI, and that MWI was given “a head’s up” about the job. That was evident by MWI’s order for pump engines before the contract was even put out to bid.

Purcell, a former MWI employee, is also a plaintiff in a federal whistle blower lawsuit accusing MWI of fraudulently helping Nigeria obtain $74 million in taxpayer-backed loans for overpriced and unnecessary pumping equipment. The U.S. Justice Department has joined the suit as a plaintiff.  Was Jeb’s hand in this, too?

Aren’t we so lucky that America’s Royal Family is so arrogant that they don’t even try to cover their paper/money trail!  Shoddy work in Iraq, shoddy work in NOLA, shoddy is the nicest label I can offer to America’s dumbest criminal syndicate.  How long can the voting public allow this?

Hey! Let’s Outsource the President!

Today’s New York Times front page article pleads for someone with brains.

Stephen J. Hadley, President Bush’s national security adviser, is in the market for someone who “has Star Power” — with the hope of saving Iraq.

“Mr. Hadley is interviewing candidates, including military generals, for a new high-profile job that people in Washington are calling the war czar.”

My previous post (SAGAW) may proffer some candidates that for you, Mr. Hadley.  Our military service academies make sure their graduates are thoroughly familiar with the U. S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.  They are educated to be leaders.  They are educated to analyze and deduce solutions to untenable situations.  They also have better ideas about what presents real or imagined threats. Sorry, those decisions were already made by GOP royalty, but they might have more of a clue how to redirect and protect our human resources.  They may not be experts in navigating the convoluted political quagmire they will inherit, but they have educated intellectual tools to work with, unlike …..

If the corporations who rule this country can outsource their workforce and the president outsource a Commander-In-Chief, then, why can America’s voters outsource the president?

Where Did America Come From?

Anyone take time to read the Declaration of Independence lately?

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it.

Thanks to Service Academy Graduates Against the War, for reminding us that it is not always the military chomping at the bit to “kill somebody”.

It is too clear that the corporate dollar squeezes the blood out of the citizens of this planet to increase its bottom line. Those CEO perks are so very expensive, of course someone must pay.

I share a grateful message I sent to SAGAW:

I enjoy reading your enlightened observations into this country’s foundations and recognizing the core principles that created what we call the United States of America. It saddens me that so few take the time to research and understand this document. We take for granted what other countries call privileges, we call “inalienable rights“. I see a decline in what this country is supposed to stand for. Your page resurrects hope that recovery from today’s insanity is possible. We face a long and treacherous road to recovery. Your members represent an educated leadership that has not sold out. I encourage your participation in guiding this country out of a political fog and back into sunlight.

Tony’s Heartwarming Return

How can such a likeable guy like Tony Snow work for this administration?

It was a heart warming return for Tony at his first news event. Choking up, as he recounted the support he has received from the media, almost made me forget who he works for. After all, he is just the messenger. This administration is trying, excuse me, trying hard, to put a human face on a truly inhumane White House.

You have claimed so often that your job is HARD, your decisions are HARD, and the Americans who employ you just don’t understand, King George, your face saving efforts are too thin to cover your crimes. Oh, but that is such another blog post, your Highness.

Mission Accomplished

Bush has accomplished many things since the invasion on Iraq:

The death of habeas corpus;

The destruction of the bill of rights;

The patriot act 1 and 2;

Wire tapping and ease dropping;

Abandon the treaties of the Geneva Convention

Dropping the U.S. statues in the world community; 

Authorizing torture; 

Integrating church and state;

Al Qaeda in Iraq;

Made more terrorist;

Instability in the Middle East;

Increased the number of enemies worldwide.

These are but a few things Bush has accomplishments in the last four year.

Katrina Aid Ignored

How can anyone expect Bush and his administration to correct the chaos of Iraq when the chaos of Katrina still looms over us? We all know the poor performance of Bush, FEMA and the rest of the incompetent gang. How aware are we that our incompetent President squandered money, supplies and good will diplomacy from other countries.  Should it surprise any of us that much of New Orleans is still in shambles the same way most of Iraq is? Bush has exhibited the same style of poor management for both Katrina and Iraq. 

In today’s Washington Post Article: “Most Katrina Aid From Overseas Went Unclaimed” Karen Hughes sent a cable from her State Department office to U.S. ambassadors worldwide. Titled: “Echo-Chamber Message” — a public relations term for talking points designed to be repeated again and again — the Sept. 7, 2005, directive was unmistakable: Assure the scores of countries that had pledged or donated aid at the height of the disaster that their largesse had provided Americans “practical help and moral support” and “highlight the concrete benefits hurricane victims are receiving.” Remember Karen Hughes, Under Secretary, Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs?  Basically she still holds a post that nobody around the world takes seriously.

The reality was, that while Hughes wanted everyone to say thank you, diplomats around the world were watching the U.S. government turn down many allies’ offers.

“Allies offered $854 million in cash and in oil that was to be sold for cash. But only $40 million has been used so far for disaster victims or reconstruction, according to U.S. officials and contractors. In addition, valuable supplies and services — such as cell phone systems, medicine and cruise ships — were delayed or declined because the government could not handle them. In some cases, supplies were wasted”. (See CREW documents for detailed information and contribution matrix.)

The Italians should be disgusted at outcome of their generosity. Their shipments of medicine, gauze and other emergency supplies spoiled after sitting out for weeks, and had to be destroyed.  In an email exchange, one official wrote, “Tell them we blew it,” another official wrote “The flip side is just to dispose of it and not come clean”.  How typical of this administrations minions.

Bush, in all his bluster of caring about people, again falls far short of his responsibilities. The administration did however, admit in February 2006 that they were ill prepared to coordinate and distribute foreign aid. Not only were they ill prepared, they still haven’t fixed the lingering problems of Katrina.  They were never honest with our allies about not being prepared to distribute aid.  Sorry, honesty is not on this administration agenda.  

So, I ask you again, how can Bush tell the American people that he knows what’s good for Iraq when he can’t even seem to understand what’s good for New Orleans. Its residents are still scattered around the country. Bush (the AFFECTED) has no concept of cause and effect.  

THE SHODDY WORK OF RECONSTRUCTION

American-financed rebuilding program in Iraq, is a joke.  Inspectors for a federal oversight agency have found that in a sampling of eight projects that the United States had declared successes, seven were no longer operating as designed because of plumbing and electrical failures, lack of proper maintenance, apparent looting and expensive equipment that lay idle. 

But, this cannot be the first time inspectors have found that projects officially declared a success — six months later, they fell apart. 

Shoddy work is shoddy work!  Americans can sue contractors for failing to honor terms of their contract. But, what can the Iraqis do?  Hide? Loot? Try to survive any way they can by joining a religious gang?  Because the US has not given protection to its Iraqi employees or supporters, Iraqi people must use the resources they have at hand.  US promises came too late.  Repair failed.  Their infrastructure consists of a “green zone” of protection that is exclusive to a select few.  We have built castles for ourselves and left the Iraqi population to their own devices.  King George still fails to see why Iraqis aren’t grateful.

King George’s formula for success: ‘WE BREAK IT, YOU FIX IT’, is not a foreign policy.

Bush Says Don’t ‘Test My Will’

President George W. Bush has warned Democrats not to ‘test my will’ after he vetoes a bill withdrawing US troops from Iraq.  “So if they want to try again that which I have said was unacceptable, then of course I’ll veto it,” Bush said. Gosh, parents tell their children ‘don’t test my will’ after they have been naughty. 

Apparently American Congress and American voters have been naughty.  Follow the logic.  What logic? 

The showdown between Bush and Congress comes in the context of Americans’ mounting disapproval of the four-year-old war and Bush’s strategy to deploy additional troops to Iraq to quell violence bordering on civil war. The funding bill passed 218-208 in the House of Representatives on Wednesday and 51-46 in the Senate on Thursday and has a non-binding target of completing the troop pullout by March 31, 2008.

So, Congress, just like the fired prosecutors, serve their constituents at the pleasure of this president?  Can he fire Congress, too?  Isn’t that what a dictator does when he changes a regime?  Can he, also, fire the American people for disagreeing with his outrageous policies?  Wait a minute!  The American Constitution says the President can dismiss a bill when the American Congress presents them for signing?  That is the only part of the Constitution he understands. Oh yes!  Bush treats the Congress like they have brought an ‘unacceptable’ guest home for dinner, the Democrats. 

His naughty American citizens must be punished.  Next he should ask Americans ‘who’s your daddy’.

If it would not distract from urgent global instability, global warming and domestic issues like health care, education, and the economy, we should start impeachment proceedings.  With an abundant bag of proof that would make a prosecutor (of our choosing) jump with glee, we should show this tyrant what LAW means.      It would be a “Slam Dunk”.

King George pledges that it’s his way or the highway.  Wow, don’t test my will.

LET’S COOK THE BOOKS AGAIN!

Figures Used to Show Success of Surge Excludes Bomb Victims

President Bush discussed this issue with Charlie Rose on April 24^th  explaining that “If the standard of success is no car bombings or suicide bombings, we have just handed those who commit suicide bombings a huge victory,”

However, the number of casualties due to explosive attacks has risen. In March, the first full month of the security 323 people were killed. Through April 24, this figure is 365, McClatchy reports.

President Bush discussed the issue with Charlie Rose on Tuesday, explaining that “If the standard of success is no car bombings or suicide bombings, we have just handed those who commit suicide bombings a huge victory,” McClatchy reports.

Iraq specialist James Denselow, who is based at Chatham House, the London based foreign policy think tank, believes that not counting victims of explosive attacks is misleading and does not present a true picture of whether the surge is having the desired effect, McClatchy reports.

“Since the administration keeps saying that failure is not an option, they are redefining success in a way that suits them,” Denselow said.

General Petraeus, the top US commander in Iraq, said this week that the US does not expect the surge to stop bombings, McClatchy reports.

Thank you McClatchy Tribune as viewed on IraqSlogger.com

We are so used to accepting bogus figures and claims from this administration, no wonder we have become complacent.  The White House occupant is the most successful Shock Jock this country has ever seen.  I fear this country has fallen into the mode of “if you ignore it, it will go away”. 

Well, that makes us as stupid as King George!