Dole and Shalala Are Actually Working

Well I finally found out that Donna Shalala and Bob Dole are actually doing something on their investigation of the VA health care screw up. This is a May 15th press release from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. God forbid that the main stream media should follow through on updates.

Vets Address Commission Created in Wake of Walter Reed Crisis. IAVA Members Describe the Red Tape and Lack of Care Veterans Face

NEW YORK – Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) will address the Presidential Commission headed by Donna Shalala and Bob Dole created in the wake of the fallout over Walter Reed. The commission is currently hearing testimony and statements on how to improve care for men and women in uniform.

Why are these hearings not being covered by the Press? It would be nice if we knew the breath of the investigation. Maybe someday we will have answers as to how the VA could abandon the troops; funny how they didn’t abandon their bonuses.

My View on the Dateline BodyArmor follow up: Greed

Thank you Dateline NBC for the followup story about the Army body armor scandal.  So, the General does NOT see a problem that Army’s Interceptor body armor testers retired to cushy jobs with the manufacturer.  The Army won’t use Dragon Skin, but the CIA does. Plus, the man who helped design Interceptor claims he would choose Dragon Skin over his original design.   Soldiers in the field envy the few who manage to get Dragon Skin. It is shameful that the Army Brass tells soldiers ‘if they get killed while wearing Dragon Skin, their families won’t get benefits’!  This is only a $30 Million dollar contract after all.

Misery vs. Money, you be the judge   You bet that our mercenaries are wearing Dragon Skin.

So, once again, greed trumps the safety of our troops.   The corrupt system is a too well oiled machine. Whoever got bought off will never be brought to justice, money drives the show and lines the pockets of those in charge.

Carter, Bush Is ‘the Worst in History’ In Foreign Relations

Bravo President Carter for going against protocol to call Bush what he is, a failure. President Ford made his negative feelings public about Bush but only after his death.  Presidents Clinton and Bush (41) have become such pals, that I don’t think Clinton would say anything disparaging.  

Since Bush doesn’t read newspapers, listen to the news or really give a crap about what anyone has to say, I’m sure Carter’s words will never reach him. But then nothing does.

LITTLE ROCK, May 19 — Former president Jimmy Carter called President Bush’s international relations “the worst in history” and also took aim at Bush’s environmental policies and the administration’s “quite disturbing” faith-based initiative program.

“I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history,” Carter said. “The overt reversal of America’s basic values as expressed by previous administrations . . . has been the most disturbing to me.”

Carter said that Bush’s policy of preemptive war, “where we go to war with another nation militarily, even though our own security is not directly threatened,” was “a radical departure from all previous administration policies.”

These are strong words from Carter, who is a very religious person. But then Bush has a privilege that no other president has had, God speaks directly to the shrub. Or is that the burning bush? 

Carter also offered a harsh assessment for the White House’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, which helps religious charities receive billions in federal grants. “As a traditional Baptist, I’ve always believed in separation of church and state and honored that premise when I was president, and so have all other presidents, I might say, except this one,” he said.

I’m sure Tony Snow or Dana Perino will dismiss Carter as a disgruntled past president.

Hope in the person of Moqtada al-Sadr?

Thanks for this article by Sudarsan Raghavan, Washington Post Foreign Service

The movement of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has embarked on one of its most dramatic tactical shifts since the beginning of the war.The 33-year-old populist is reaching out to a broad array of Sunni leaders, from politicians to insurgents, and purging extremist members of his Mahdi Army militia who target Sunnis. Sadr’s political followers are distancing themselves from the fragile Shiite-led government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, which is widely criticized as corrupt, inefficient and biased in favor of Iraq’s majority Shiites.

Is this the attitude we have been waiting for? One can only hope.

In recasting himself, the cleric is responding to popular frustration, a widening Sunni-Shiite rift and political inertia, conditions he helped create. The shift is as much a reaction to U.S. efforts to rein him in as it is an admission of unfulfilled visions. His strategy exposes the strengths and weaknesses of his movement as it pushes for U.S. troops to leave and competes with its Shiite rivals in the contest to shape a new Iraq.

Let’s pay closer attention to what Al Sadr is saying. His Sunni counterpart says:

“The Sadrists believe they have political problems, and they are trying new tactics to serve their own interests,” said Mithal al-Alusi, an independent Sunni legislator. “But anyway, we welcome any political group who wants to talk instead of kill.”

If there is a force that will embody both Islamic factions and become inclusive of the Iraqi populace, then there is actually HOPE and our troops can be removed with more dignity. Sadr’s army is the second largest in Iraq after the US. They will be able to stand against Al Qaeda’s intrusions. This is, of course, wanting to believe Al Sadr’s words. He is offering the US an OUT. At the same time he denounces the corrupt government the US placed in charge of Iraq and cannot seem to control.

Don’t forget, good intentions are worthless without good actions to follow.

Newt Gingrich – “Al Qaeda will follow us home”

This morning on Meet The Press, Newt Gingrich reiterated the ‘company line’ that the terrorists are just waiting to follow Americans home from Iraq so they can wreak havoc within American borders.

What is wrong with this picture?  If the American troops are at home, we are better capable of protecting this country and more likely to avert an attack.  As long as the American troops are overseas, anywhere,  America is the most vulnerable!  Case in point, the little town of Greensburg, Kansas was destroyed and it was left to the locals to attend to search, rescue, and shelter the survivors and displaced.  Then, Bush arrives!

President Bush only offered these words: ” I declared a major disaster for that community, and I hope that helps. It’s going to take a long time for the community to recover. And so we will help in any way we can. There’s a certain spirit in the Midwest of our country, a pioneer spirit that still exists, and I’m confident this community will be rebuilt. To the extent that we can help, we will. The most important thing now, though, is for our citizens to ask for the good Lord to comfort those who hurt.”

The Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and the White House had a spat – apparently now resolved – over whether National Guard deployments to Iraq had hampered the government’s ability to respond here.

Well, between the Lord and locals, Greenburg may rebuild.  Is this how this administration plans to deal with a terrorist attack?   After all, now that FEMA is involved “Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.”

Does this administration plan to distinguish America’s response depending on the KIND of catastrophe that happens?

If a terrorist attack happens, the political currency is great and headline news for the administration.  All stops are pulled.

But, if a natural disaster occurs, the president becomes Consoler in chief where he will pose for photos and listen to survivors.  Then he will send a FEMA assessment team to determine what kind of government loans apply.

I really don’t think Al Qaeda cares to follow the troops home.  They will get the Real Estate they wanted all along, they will have an oil spigot to play with and set up their version of an Islamic state.  I think they will have their hands full with that.  So, the twisted argument being presented by the Republicans is so ludicrous, it is laughable!