Red State Renegade

Seymour Hersch, who exposed the My Lai Massacre in the Vietnam war, and the Abu Ghraib scandal in Iraq, has long insisted that the Bush administration is guilty of war crimes and maintains that the US government has videotapes of boys being sodomized at Abu Ghraib.

Hersh, who has been described by hard-core neocons as “the closest thing American journalism has to a terrorist,” spoke before the election, in the spirit of hopefulness:

“You cannot believe how many people have told me to call them on 20 January [the date of Obama’s inauguration]… [Saying] You wanna know about abuses and violations? Call me then.”

Bush Last week:
“Our capital markets are flexible and resilient and can deal with these adjustments”

Bush Today:
“Our entire economy is in danger…Without immediate action by Congress, America can slip into a major panic”

McCain Last week:
“I believe, still, the fundamentals of our economy are strong”

McCain today:
“The whole future of the American economy is in danger…If we do not act, credit will dry up with grave consequences for workers and businesses across the American economy”

Need I say more?

Military Experts on your favorite news station turn out to be Pentagon Hacks!

Dwight D. Eisenhower famously warned against the influence of an ever more powerful military-industrial complex in 1961. Indeed, his vision of the merging of government, media, industry, and the military was ahead of it’s time. Yet no one could have predicted the acceleration of that trend in the last seven years.

Author Naomi Wolf (The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism) has argued convincingly that the same steps which worked to subdue and numb the people of Germany, Czeckoslovakia, China, and Latin American dictatorships are being imposed upon the American people equally successfully:

“…beneath our very noses, George Bush and his administration are using time-tested tactics to close down an open society. It is time for us to be willing to think the unthinkable…that it can happen here. And that we are further along than we realise.”

Among her “ten easy steps” to fascism in the U.S. (besides “Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy”) was “control the press.”

It was slightly unreal when, in 2004, the Guardian (UK) reported that “The US government admitted it paid actors to pose as journalists in video news releases sent to TV stations intending to convey support for new laws about health benefits,” including completely fake scenes of crowds giving George Bush a standing ovation as he signed health care legislation.

More disturbing still was the 2005 N.Y. Times disclosure that “A handful of columnists wrote in support of administration policies without disclosing they had accepted payments from the government,” and that:

“at least 20 federal agencies, including the Defense Department and the Census Bureau, have made and distributed hundreds of television news segments in the past four years, records and interviews show. Many were subsequently broadcast on local stations across the country without any acknowledgement of the government’s role in their production.”

The most high profile case involved syndicated columnist and TV host Armstrong Williams, who, after being busted for accepting almost $1/4 million to promote Bush’s “No Child Left Behind” law, acknowledged that it was “bad judgement” on his part.

Care to imagine the ones that didn’t get caught?

Last year it was revealed that the White House had interfered in Global Warming reports from scientists, with the Christian Science Monitor reporting that “More than 120 scientists across seven federal agencies say they have been pressured to remove references to ‘climate change’ and ‘global warming’ from a range of documents, including press releases and communications with Congress.”

Today we learn that for years now, the administration has employed a handful of military retirees, to appear on network and cable news shows as ‘experts’ to help you and I understand everyday developments and decisions in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (and our upcoming sequel, Iran). These hacks have been flown around in the plane normally used by Dick Cheney in a deliberate campaign to generate favorable news coverage of the administration’s military performance.

If your head isn’t spinning yet, the Times reports that the synergies of the relationships are not simply military or ideological, but financial as well:

“Most of the analysts have ties to military contractors vested in the very war policies they are asked to assess on air…Those business relationships are hardly ever disclosed to the viewers, and sometimes not even to the networks themselves. But collectively, the men on the plane and several dozen other military analysts represent more than 150 military contractors either as lobbyists, senior executives, board members or consultants.”

As presidential candidate John McCain (shown here searching GWB for WMDs) claims that the U.S. has already succeeded in Iraq, The fact that Turkey launched an invasion of Northern Iraq seems to have escaped the U.S. Media…

Turkey’s Defense minister last week resisted American pressure to withdraw and rejected the idea of timetables, declaring that the troops would not withdraw from Iraq until their mission is complete (sounds vaguely familiar…).

The international media is following the story almost as intently as if it involved a president and a blowjob. But for some reason, the American media finds that a photo of Barrack Obama in African garb is more newsworthy.

Putting Iraq back in the American consciousness would harm McCain and the GOP even further, as it would point out once again that every decision (including the surge) has been disastrous:

“How great can the situation in Iraq be when our NATO ally has invaded the country we militarily occupy in order to kill guerrillas harbored by our Iraqi Kurdish allies, who have been slipping across the border for which we are responsible in order to kill dozens of NATO troops in eastern Anatolia?”

In the words of a Middle East expert

What is he TALKING ABOUT???

During George’s trip to Africa he was interviewed by Ann Curry of the Today show, and denied that Iraq had anything to do with the the state of our economy:

Bush: …and I’m convinced fifty years from now people will look back and say, Thank God there were those that were willing to sacrifice.

Curry: But you’re saying you’re going to have to carry that burden. Some Americans believe that they feel they’re carrying the burden because of this economy.

Bush: Yeah, well…

Curry: They say we’re suffering because of this.

Bush: I don’t agree with that.

Curry: You don’t agree with that? It has nothing do with the economy, the war, the spending on the war?

Bush: I don’t think so. I think actually the spending in the war might help with jobs.

Curry: Oh, yeah?

Bush: Yeah, because we’re buying equipment, and people are working. I think this economy is down because we built too many houses…

Curry: hmmm…

Bush: …and the economy is adjusting. On the other hand we’re just about to kick out 157 billion dollars to our taxpayers……what would have been had we abandoned Iraq when times were tough and let those soldiers die in vain..

From the Boy-King’s speech monday night (If, by ’speech’ you mean ’saliva-foam infused rantings of a smirking, delusional megalomaniac):

“Seven years have passed since I first stood before you at this rostrum. In that time, our country has been tested in ways none of us could have imagined. We faced hard decisions about peace and war, rising competition in the world economy, and the health and welfare of our citizens. These issues call for vigorous debate, and I think it’s fair to say we’ve answered the call. Yet history will record that amid our differences, we acted with purpose.”

“As we meet tonight, our economy is undergoing a period of uncertainty. America has added jobs for a record 52 straight months, but jobs are now growing at a slower pace. Wages are up, but so are prices for food and gas. Exports are rising, but the housing market has declined. At kitchen tables across our country, there is a concern about our economic future.”

“The mission in Iraq has been difficult and trying for our nation. But it is in the vital interest of the United States that we succeed.”

Contrast the tone with Clinton’s final State of the Union speech, eight years ago:

“We are fortunate to be alive at this moment in history. Never before has our nation enjoyed, at once, so much prosperity and social progress with so little internal crisis and so few external threats. Never before have we had such a blessed opportunity — and, therefore, such a profound obligation — to build the more perfect union of our founders’ dreams.”

“Eight years ago, it was not so clear to most Americans there would be much to celebrate in the year 2000. Then our nation was gripped by economic distress, social decline, political gridlock. The title of a best-selling book asked: America: What Went Wrong?…”

“My fellow Americans, we have crossed the bridge we built to the 21st century. Now, we must shape a 21st century American revolution — of opportunity, responsibility and community. We must be now, as we were in the beginning, a new nation.”

White House Tool/Puppet potentially ‘hot’ Press Secretary Dana Perino has been at the forefront of the administrations efforts to label Iran a rogue terrorist state bent on developing ‘nucular’ weapons (and ultimately a grave danger to us all).

These claims have been undermined recently by the release of a consensus report from 16 U.S. Intelligence agencies agreeing that the Islamic state halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003.

Apparently Dana doesn’t know much about nukes at all - or, for that matter, historical dangers to the country.

Dana admitted this week that when a reporter asked a question about the Cuban Missile Crisis, she had no idea what it was, and glossed over it until she could ask her husband what it was:

“I was panicked a bit because I really don’t know about . . . the Cuban Missile Crisis,” said Perino, referring to the 1962 crisis on which the U.S. and Russia sat on the brink of nuclear war. “It had to do with Cuba and missiles, I’m pretty sure.”

“I came home and I asked my husband,” she admitted. “I said, ‘Wasn’t that like the Bay of Pigs thing?’”

Once again proving there is NO reason to take anything these people say seriously.

HUMOROUS UPDATE: Dana Perino’s husband is actually British!

I suppose it depends on your definition of ‘torture:’

From a Bush press conference this week:

Q Thank you, sir. A simple question.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. It may require a simple answer.

Q What’s your definition of the word “torture”?

THE PRESIDENT: Of what?

Q The word “torture.” What’s your definition?

THE PRESIDENT: That’s defined in U.S. law, and we don’t torture.

Q Can you give me your version of it, sir?

THE PRESIDENT: Whatever the law says.

Recent developments pointing to the leadup to an attack on Iran:

(1) Iran’s army designated a terrorist group:

In Mid August, the administration, in a suprisingly quiet manner, designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, the country’s 125,000-strong elite military branch, as a “specially designated global terrorist,” the first time any national army has been designated a terrorist group.

Traditionally a president needed authorization from Congress to go to war. This changed after 9-11, with the Authorization to Use Military Force (AUMF) passed in 2001 by a fearful congress, authorizing the administration to attack terrorist groups and the nations that harbor them. Because two AUMFs is better than one, another AUMF was passed in 2002, which stated:

Whereas the President has authority under the Constitution to take action in order to deter and prevent acts of international terrorism against the United States, as Congress recognized in the joint resolution on Authorization for Use of Military Force

Can you connect the dots? By designating the Iranian army a terrorist group, it will make it easier for the Neo-cons to bomb Iran without an authorization from Congress.

(2) The U.S. announced new plans to build military base on the Iranian border:

No shit. Announced this week, the base will be built by November. According to the military, the base is:

“not really permanent, although it will be manned 24/7 and will be used for as long as necessary.”

(3) British Troops that were just headed home from Basra are now headed to the Iran border:

In early September, a much publicized pullout of British troops from Basra made the news, symbolically allaying concerns amongst the British people regarding contnued involvment in this quagmire. Despite British commanders absolutely ripping apart the US war policy, the news was spun into a sign of progress by the War crowd.

Now, at least some of the Basra force has been re-deployed along the Iran border.

(4) General Davis Petraeus strongly implied this week that we would need to work on the Iran threat within the borders of Iran (and not diplomatically):

General Petraeus, also called the GGS (Greek God of Surge) appeared this week in an exclusive ‘Faux’ news’ interview, which would have made the Soviet Information Ministry proud about 40 years ago.

In the exchange, ironically called ‘Briefing of America’ (how about ‘Brainwashing of America’?), the GGS was pressed by Minister of Propaganda Brit Hume:

HUME: Do the rules of engagement that you’re operating under allow you do to what you think you need to do to suppress this activity on the part of Iran, or perhaps do you need assistance from military not under your command to do this?

PETRAEUS: They allow us to do what we need to do inside Iraq.

HUME:Is that enough in your view?

PETRAEUS: Well, that’s what I’m responsible for, and again, when I have concerns about something beyond that, I take them to my boss . . . and in fact, we have shared our concerns with him and with the chain of command, and there is a pretty hard look ongoing at that particular situation.

HUME: That sounds pretty disturbing, Ambassador Crocker — that we are confronting with Iran now a situation where it doesn’t appear that we have any diplomatic possibilities to suppress this activity by Iran, or do we?

UPDATE: SECONDS AFTER I POSTED THIS, I SAW THE FOLLOWING HEADLINE:

“U.S. Officials Begin Crafting Iran Bombing Plan”

Oddly enough, Faux news blames the necessity of an Iran attack on Germany:

“A recent decision by German officials to withhold support for any new sanctions against Iran has pushed a broad spectrum of officials in Washington to develop potential scenarios for a military attack on the Islamic regime”

What more is there to say about the Petraeus and Crocker show today, predictably unveiling nothing but more fucking of America.

Fucking of the troops - those killed for George’s messianic visions, or worse, maimed for life. Fucking of their families - the sons and daughters of who live with this disaster every second and have to buy into it because…Christ…How can you admit that this hellish life is all a mistake?

Fucking of our standing in the world - Yes, as a superpower but an often benevolent one. Fucking of the good will and sympathy we had after 9-11. Fucking of world opinion of the U.S.

Fucking of previous military leaders who didn’t back the party line. Fucking of the Iraq Study Group, Fucking of the GAO report on the surge…Fucking of our own intelligence agencies, who say we’re breeding terrorists over there faster than we can kill them.

Fucking of the real numbers - Sectarian violence, Children dying, poor levels of electricity and water, increases in disease, families displaced.

Fucking of the Iraqi people yet again, who in the latest BBC poll say life is worse for them and that the surge isn’t working.

Fucking of the future of America - not just of our strength in the world but our future health care, education, your children’s Social Security, our roads and bridges.

It goes on…and who is to blame? The Neocons, for sure. The party in power…the media…Our loser reps in Congress. All the bit players on the inside who see the wrongs everyday and bite their tongues either in fear or in denial.

And the American people as one. Including you and I.

The next step will be the ultimate wag the dog. A bad sequel that, someday, we will realize already played out 5 years ago. A new marketing prgram that somehow sounds familiar. After all, why change something that worked so well (and continues to)?

Those paying attention lately will not be surprised to find out the latest product will be another attack - this time on Iran. Sure, we could never send in ground troops, but we can bomb he hell out of them.

You don’t think the American people will go for it? It won’t happen again? I hope you’re right, but standby to be barraged with propaganda designed to convince say, 1/3 of the people that Iran is an imminent threat that needs to be handled. What about the other 66 percent?

Fuck the rest! That’s their feeling - these guys DO NOT CARE.

They have nothing to lose. They are going out with their biggest bang yet.

9-11. Iraq. Iran.

Cheney will be pushing it, but through his lapdog’s 9-11 memorial speech.

Start paying attention. Listen to the war drums. Be aware. Warn your friends.

Maybe as a nation we can head this one off…It will either take impeachment…or a lot of people in high places who truly are fed up…or a lot of marching in the streets.