The United States and Iraq Security Pact

Over the past several weeks there have been news reports concerning a drafting of a security pact between the U.S. and Iraq.  Most reports were confusing at best and talked about american troop withdrawal; both full withdrawal and partial; training and support forces to stay; full sovereignty and a time line wanted by Iraq but not the U.S. and etc.

 

Lets try to cut through what is happening here.  Bush and Iraqi prime minister al Maliki are using our men and women in uniform for their own political purpose.  Al Maliki would like to see the U.S. continue to pour billions of dollars into his country.  Bush wants to continue this war beyond his presidency to tie the hands of the next president.  Both have made safety the corner stone for American withdrawal. 

 

Lets examine that because it is a chess game to keep america occupied in Iraq.  We are 5 1/2 years into this war and Bush and his military advisers still can't tell the people when Iraq can take over the security of their country and we are the one's training them.  If we don't know how long it takes, who does?  Al Maliki and his people certainly should know.

 

The other point, al Maliki is reported to want a date certain of when all U.S. troops will leave.  Bush does not want a time table.  If al Maliki was serious all he has to do is demand  the U.S. leave and we would have to do so.  Bush and al Maliki are both playing this con game on america.  It is way past time our troops come home from this senseless war and occupation over WMD that did not exist.

 

Get this: the N.Y. Times reported "graffiti can be seen on the walls in Shiite districts of Baghdad saying: 'Iraq for sale, see Maliki'".  It seems the Iraqi people also see what is going on.  What a shame.

John McCain's Pinocchio Nose: A Republican Symbol

The American people surely remember our inspectors in Iraq who said Iraq had no WMD stockpiled and ready to use against america or transferred to terrorists as George Bush said and in fact gave as the reason for the war and invasion of Iraq.  They also articulated that Iraq had no WMD at any time during Bush's term in office.  It is also easy to remember after our inspectors issued their report Bush and the neocons started to give other reasons for the invasion and occupation.  In other words, they told lies.

 

John McCain continued those lies on 8/26/08 according to a Fox News ticker which quoted McCain in answer to a comment by Obama.  McCain said the war in Iraq was to liberate that country --- just another lie by a neocon on why we went to war.  The neocons believe if they keep repeating the same lie over and over, sooner or later the people will believe the lie as fact.  Pretty soon Mr. McCain's pinocchio nose will be touching the ground.  The so called "straight talking express" has died a tragic death.

 

The past has always been a key to the future.  Over 50 years ago, President Harry Truman said the Republicans were a bunch of damn liars.  Well, 50 years later, they still are.  President Truman was not a seer nor did he have ESP, he just recognized a Republican liar when he saw one.  Some things never change.

Confirmation Of The News Media Failure

In the past I have written several post concerning the Iraq war including a two part series titled, "The Rosetta Stone To The Iraq War."  My past post were about how Mr. Bush took our country to war in Iraq over WMD that did not exist and how he purposely mislead the American people.  I have not written any post lately concerning Iraq because I feel the people have finally understood just how reckless the Bush Presidency has been.

 

There is another part of the Iraq war that I touched upon concerning how the news media, especially T.V. journalists promoted the war on their own without seeking the truth or facts and aided and abetted the Bush administration in promoting the war.  Now we have some new revelations in a soon to be released book written by Scott McClellan, the Presidents former Press Secretary.  I will not rehash what he said about the President and Iraq because I covered that before but I do want to cover what he said about the news media because the same thing is going on today concerning the Democratic Primaries for that party's nomination.

 

Mr. McClellan called the news media "complicit enablers in the White House's carefully orchestrated campaign to shape and manipulate sources of public approval in the march to the Iraq war."  That my friends is the exact thing they are doing with the promotion and crowing of Barack Obama as the nominee before the process is complete and clamoring for Senator Clinton to drop out of the race.  They have chosen sides instead of covering and reporting on the process for the nomination and how there are many more issues the DNC will have to solve before a nominee can be officially chosen. 

 

Chris Matthews on Hardball ran a caption across the T.V. screen asking Is Clinton hurting the Democrats by staying in the race?  He already knew the answer because the people have already stated they wanted her to stay in the race till the process was complete.  But there he was trying to plant the seed that she is hurting her party.  He really shows his ass and how insecure and dishonest he really is.  When the nominee's for the general election is finally known you can be sure that the news media will choose sides and then go after the other guy or gal.  Journalists have already planted the seed that if Obama is the nominee and looses in the general election it will be Senator Clinton's fault.  They try to cover for Obama every way they can think of.  They have no character.  That says it all.

 

By the way, I wrote several letters to Journalists long before the Iraq war started and told them what I thought about not having the character to look for the facts concerning Iraq instead of promoting Bush's talking points.

How Did We Come To $120/Barrel Oil and $3.50/Gallon Gasoline

Early in the Bush administration, V.P. Cheney met with the Energy Corporations Executives.  Their meeting, deliberations, and decisions were secret and private and until this very day the public has not been given any information about their clandestine agenda.  Since Bush and Cheney were both involved in the Oil and Gas Industry before taking office, it is safe to conclude the secret discussions were about the price of Oil and Gas.

 

Then you start a war with an Oil producing country over WMD that did not exist, feed speculation about Oil supplies being cut because of the war, let it spill over to the OPEC countries, and then have the domestic Oil companies openly talk about prices being too low and inventory shortages and the speculation runs like wild fire which artificially increase prices.

 

Then, don't stop there: start talking about a possible war with Iran and production cut backs and the speculation drives prices up even higher.  Then American Oil says the price of gas should be $4.00/gallon and pretty soon the price of Oil and Gas doubles and then triples.  The only ones who benefit by these high prices are the Oil Producers.  They love the speculation they themselves participate in.  They also love the Corporate Welfare they receive from the Bush administration.

 

The American people need to understand what is going on here and do those things they can do to reduce their dependence on Oil and Gas.  We need a President who will take the Oil and Gas industry to task and implement more conservation measures and reduce our reliance on Oil and Gas. It is time to go back to some of the measures taken by President Carter, especially reducing the speed limit on the Interstate system.

 

It is time for us to remember there is no shortage of Oil and Gas, only speculation fed by greed.  Most of all, it is time to remember the Oil and Gas industry is no friend of the American people.  If you listen to their leaders, they never make enough profit, even when at record levels.

A Reckless Foreign Policy

George Bush's attempt to play God in Iraq and the Middle East is a prime example of a leader trying to use its military power with impunity to enforce its own warped ideology on other countries.

 

We now learn, (what people with common sense found out long ago) through a report by the Associated Press, that the Arab nations worry about Iran's increasing influence around the Region particularly in Iraq and Lebanon.  Sunni countries like Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the gulf states fear Iran will dominate Iraq in coming years because of its influence on Iraq's Shiite politicians. 

 

The war and occupation in Iraq, over WMD that did not exist, will be entering its fifth year in March.  Prior to this war, the Arab nations knew that Saddam and Iraq held Iran in check.  This war did not only destabilized Iraq, but also the entire Middle East region.  And as I mentioned before, when this war is done, because of Bush's reckless behavior, Iran and Iraq will be close allies.

 

None of this speaks well for America, our security or the security of the Middle East.  With the balance of power shifting, Israel with its WMD, Bush's incompetence and the problems in Pakistan, another country with WMD, the whole Muslim world could blow up any minute now.  Bush's bully-mentality towards other countries has caused a great backlash against the United States and has and continues to endanger our security.  

 

Democracy was not forced on the United States; our founding fathers were responsible for that.  Democracy can not be forced on other countries like Bush thinks he has a right to do.  The terrorists who were responsible for attacking the U.S. on 9-11 still flourish and their influence is growing.  The action of Mr. Bush to start a war and occupation in Iraq, instead of action against those who attacked us on 9-11, has set the Middle East on fire.  Democracy forced on others is simply not true Democracy.  

 

The shame of all this is that our men and women in uniform are still paying the ultimate price.  And we are still being told the surge is working, despite the fact that the reason given for the surge has never taken place.  2007 was the most deadly year in Iraq for our troops and for the Iraqi's.  In case any one has not noticed, 13 americans have already been killed in Iraq this month and from the same causes.  Our troops and our country were safer on the previous administration's watch.  That says it all. 

The Rosetta Stone To The War In Iraq (Part II)

Click here for Part I

The most important piece of the Rosetta Stone to the Iraq War was the U.N inspectors who were on the ground in Iraq.  They were there 7 straight years after the 1991 Gulf War and they returned prior to the invasion in March 2003.  Why was that important?  Because after no WMD were found by our own inspectors, Mr. Kay and Mr. Duelfer, the Bush administration, the CIA, and many military officers, especially those who appeared on the cable networks, were telling the American people the reasons we were so wrong were because the U.S. had no humint (human intelligence) on the ground in Iraq. 

 

Well there was the U.N. humint on the ground in Iraq doing their job.  That humint on the ground in Iraq were not only experienced weapons inspectors, but one among them was Scott Ritter, an outspoken American Marine who was on the ground in Iraq from the beginning.  He wrote a book about the inspectors in Iraq after the Gulf War and pointed out that the CIA tried to manipulate the U.N. inspectors and were more interested in spying on Iraq than the hunt for WMD.

 

The U.N. weapons inspectors went back before the 2003 invasion and said over and over again, in public and before the U.N., that they disarmed Iraq, destroyed the weapons they found, and destroyed the equipment used in the manufacture of weapons.  Scott Ritter was on television almost every night in 2002 and 2003 telling the country over and over again that Iraq had no WMD.  The Bush administration along with the others who clamored for the war tried to discredit him and the U.N. inspectors.  Bush would have no part of their "human intelligence" on the ground.  It should also be pointed out that despite Bush's rhetoric about WMD, the CIA could not provide the U.N. inspectors any useful information on these WMD. (Of course we all know why.)

 

George Bush and Dick Cheney tried to undermine the U.N. inspectors and the job they were doing by putting any obstacle in the way they could think of.  Our own inspectors, Kay and Duelfel, proved the U.N. inspectors were right.  Bush knew if the U.N. inspectors were allowed to complete their job as Germany and France wanted them to, there would be no war.  So Bush ordered them out and started a war that the neocons said would be a cakewalk.

Mr. Bush and his neocon team were bent on going to war with Iraq from the very beginning of his administration.  Paul O'Neill, Mr. Bush's first Treasury Secretary pointed out in his book, "The Price of Loyalty", that just 10 days in office and all the talk was about Iraq.  Getting Saddam was clearly the administration's focus.  Condi Rice, the National Security Adviser at the time, said that Iraq might be the key to reshaping the entire region.  

 

Then, still very early in office, O'Neill was reading a document that CIA director Tenent passed out.  It laid out a plan of covert activity around the globe.  At its core was the enabling provision that there be virtually no civilian oversight.  The concept was tell us (CIA) how you want to look Mr. President and we'll handle the rest. 

 

That was an astounding un-American document.  It of course led to the ultimate lie: WMD that did not exist.  The cover up of the truth dealing with the war is still going.  We also know, from all the other scandals of this administration, that they have the ability to escape oversight and disclosure. 

 

I was born during the WWII generation, so I have seen a lot of wars and how our past Presidents acted during those wars.  However, the way Mr. Bush used our military power in starting an unnecessary war and occupation over WMD that did not exist is shameful.  His arrogance, lies, and distortion of the truth and the covert way he has run the White House, have defamed the Presidency and what our country is all about.  Worst of all, he put our men and women in uniform at risk when our national security was not in danger.

 

There was a time when Republicans and Democrats alike in Congress took a stand against President Nixon and told him he had to resign or be impeached.  Those members of Congress put their country first.  It is time for Republicans and Democrats who make up the present congress to draw the line, face their responsibilities as Americans, and inform Mr. Bush he has to go, one way or another.  One more year in office is much too long for this reckless President.  It's time that the current members of Congress put Americans and their country first.

Iran: What Bush Really Knew

George Bush's rhetoric concerning Iran for the past six months is a mirror image of his rhetoric concerning Iraq during the run up to that war.  In the second instance, Bush claimed that Iraq had reconstituted its nuclear weapons program; but they had not.  With Iran he said they were building nuclear weapons.  However, we found out in the NIE report released just last week that they stopped that in 2003 when they froze the program.  That was over four years ago.

 

What the news media failed to pick up on is that from 2001 to 2003, Iran was working to produce nuclear weapons and Bush was silent.  Instead, he was attacking Iraq.  The Los Angeles Times reported that when Bush came to office he was totally disinterested in Iran, this according to a CIA official.  In fact, the CIA had made up a large Iran task force of nearly 100 officers and analysts by the end of the Clinton administration.  When Bush took office, it shrank to fewer than a dozen officers.  Those resources were shifted to other targets by Bush.  It went from being focused on Iran to being switched to Iraq.

 

The NIE report released last week now catches Mr. Bush in another lie.  He said he did not know till a few days ago that Iran froze its nuclear weapons program in 2003.  This guy has lost all respect for the office of the President.  He now wants to change the subject on Iran so he is trying to demand that they reveal all their covert activity.  Mr. Bush should demand Israel, India, and Pakistan reveal all their covert activity of their nuclear weapons program as well.  Their leaders are also unstable. 

The Rosetta Stone To War in Iraq (Part I)

The President of the United States, George W. Bush, knowingly misled the American people and ordered the invasion and occupation of Iraq.  That is an impeachable offense.  The President lied when he said:  (1) Iraq has stockpiles of WMD ready to use against America or transferred to terrorists.  (2) Iraq has reconstituted its nuclear weapons program.  (3) Iraq has mobile labs that manufacture chemical and biological WMD.  (4) Iraq is an eminent threat to the security of the U.S. (5) Saddam has a relationship with Al Qaeda and the 9-11 attack.

 

The Rosetta Stone to Mr. Bush's lies are found in the reports of David Kay and Charles Duelfer.  Both had CIA connections and ran the Iraqi study group in the hunt for WMD in Iraq after the invasion.  Both had weapons inspection experience.  After their exhausting inspections in Iraq they came back and said, "we were all wrong."  Iraq got rid of its WMD after the 1991 Gulf War, 12 years prior to our invasion.  Their findings were (1) Iraq had no stockpiles of WMD.  (2) Iraq had no mobile labs to manufacture WMD.  (3) Iraq did not reconstitute its nuclear weapons program.  (4) Iraq had no ready manufacturing facilities to resume such activity.  (5)  There was no evidence of a collaborative relationship with al Qaeda and the events of 9-11.

 

Since these weapons did not exist at any time during Bush's administration, the intelligence community could not have given Bush any proof or confirmation that they did exist.  That is why Bush nor the CIA showed the people any photographic evidence of these WMD.  President Kennedy, during the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, showed the American people, and the world, photographic evidence of Russian missiles in Cuba on their launch pads.  There were no doubts.

 

The President, lacking proof and confirmation that Iraq possessed WMD, decided to plant the seed in the people's mind that Iraq was involved in the events of 9-11.  Because these weapons did not exist, the CIA could not pass on any information to the U.N. inspectors, who were on the ground in Iraq, that revealed WMD, even though Defense Secretary Rumsfeld said he knew where they were located.. 

 

David Kay reported that the CIA gave him over 500 suspected sites in Iraq to inspect.  When he went over the list and report he was astonished.  Nothing was new or updated, everything was all old information with no collaboration.  The report was useless.  The CIA was clueless.  Kay and Duelfel also reported that Saddam still had the intent after the U.N. sanctions were lifted, but they found no evidence of a plan, people in place, or any structure to restart any weapons program.

 

Because Bush could not back up his rhetoric about Iraq's WMD, V.P. Cheney kept going back to the intelligence community and putting pressure on them to come up with something.  Because of this pressure, the CIA became political on the issue.  When no WMD were found, the President started to give other reasons why it was necessary to go to war in Iraq.  The gig was up.

 

Part II, coming shortly, will focus on the other Rosetta Stone to the war in Iraq and why Bush knew Iraq was not a threat to the United States.

The President's Lack Of Reality And Truthfulness

Contrary to the fear and war rhetoric of President Bush that Iran is working on a nuclear program to produce nuclear weapons, American intelligence just completed and released their assessment.  It concluded Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 and that the program remains frozen.

Like the President did concerning Iraq, he told the American people he knew for sure that Iran was developing the bomb.  He sent V.P. Cheney out, as usual, to tell America how Iran's nuclear weapons program was a threat to the world.  Mr. Bush continued to govern by fear.

 

At a news conference yesterday morning, the President reminded the reporters that intelligence gathering is not an exact science.  He said that as a self serving statement to justify his rhetoric.  The reporters should have asked the President why he said he knew for sure that Iraq and Iran were working to produce nuclear weapons if he knew intelligence is not an exact science.

 

The intelligence report also said the halt was imposed by Iran primarily in response to international pressure and scrutiny.  The available intelligence also suggested the Iranian leadership is guided "by a cost-benefit approach" and not a headlong rush to develop a bomb.  This is a startling statement.  In the past, countries who wanted to go to war were not motivated by cost.  All one has to do is look how Bush took our country to war and occupation in Iraq over WMD that did not exist.  The cost of the war is not in the Bush budget and America is paying for the war by his deficit spending.  The cost is already at $500 billion.

 

It should also be noted that France, the British, and Germany, who were the original negotiators with Iran concerning its nuclear facilities, never engaged in the type of rhetoric Bush does.  In fact, the U.S. did not join in their negotiations for a period of time.  It was only much later when the U.S. agreed to be a silent partner to the negotiation.

 

History has repeated itself in this report.  Mohamed ElBaradei, director General of the IAEA, the arm of the U.N. responsible for checking Iran's nuclear programs, said a few months ago, "there is no evidence Iran had a nuclear weapons program in operation".  And ironically, five years ago before the U.N. and before the Iraq war started, he reported, after his inspections in Iraq, that there was no evidence that Iraq or Saddam reconstituted its nuclear program.  A short time later Bush told the U.N. inspectors to leave and started the war.  Mr. ElBaradei was right in both instances; Mr. Bush was wrong.  Even our own inspectors who combed Iraq after the war started came to the same conclusion as Mr. ElBaradei.

 

Next month Mr. Bush will be in office seven years and will give his usual "State of the Union" address.  It is time he acknowledges the mistakes he has made that has cost America dearly.  For the time being this new intelligence report has derailed the President's rush to another war, this time Iran, the country he recently associated with WWIII.  Lets also see how this intelligence report will affect the oil market.  Will the speculators be curtailed?  Time will tell.  

It Seems O So Long Ago....

that America had a leader its people can trust; that America had a leader that its people can respect; that America had a leader who is for peace; that America had a leader who cares for the people; that America had a leader who could admit when he was wrong; that America had a leader who actually led.

But contrary to what it may seem, it wasn't that long ago. It was only 7 years ago that America had a President that stood for dignity and stood for what is right. But thats what 7 years of Bush/Cheney will do to a person.

American unity and bipartisanship was at its peak following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The country rallied behind its President. George Bush had all the support a President could ever want. He had all the trust a President could want. And he had all the respect a President could want. And what did he do with it? He took advantage of that support, that trust, and that respect and turned around and blatantly lied to the American people and to Congress to justify a war with Iraq. The President and highly respected members of his administration went out on a nation-wide tour rallying support for a war. The reason they gave: Iraq has WMDs and is a direct and immediate threat to the U.S.

The American people, at that time, had no reason not to trust in and believe their President. There was no precedent for a President misleading his people into war. Even the thought of that was unimaginable. But in just a few years, the truth came out. Not only did Bush and his administration mislead the American people and Congress, they did it purposely. There is now overwhelming evidence that Bush knew damn well that Iraq and Saddam did not have WMDs and were in no way a threat to the the U.S. Yet, even while knowing this, he told the American people the exact opposite.

Now, his credibility is shattered. I'll tell you what was the "final straw" for me. I remember watching the news in 2003, a few days before the war began, and I remember hearing Saddam Hussein say that he did not have nuclear weapons. I specifically remember what I said in response, "that lying bastard". Those were my exact words. I can't even begin to explain how it felt when the truth came out. In that instance, Saddam Hussein wasn't lying, our own President was. Never in my life time did I even dream that a country as great as America would have a liar as a President. But I then came to the sad realization that we do.

When I read the latest intelligence report, that old feeling was again conjured up . For the last year, President Bush and VP Cheney have been warning the American people and Congress of the threat of Iran. According to Bush and Cheney, Iran was on the brink of having nuclear weapons and posed an immediate and direct threat to the U.S. Ahmadinejad, the
President of Iran, has been for months saying that he is not developing or seeking nuclear weapons.

But, once again, the truth has come out. And the truth is that Iran has not been working on developing nuclear weapons since 2003. Thats almost 5 years ago. And once again, there is growing evidence that the Bush administration knew of this fact much earlier that did the public. So why then, just a few weeks ago, did President Bush come on national television and tell the country that Iran and its nuclear weapons were going to bring about World War III? The sad thing is, that if this information didn't come to light sooner, the President would had probably decided to attack Iran anyway, despite knowing the facts. Then it wouldn't be Iran's fault for starting WWIII, it would be America's.....and thats the saddest thought of all.

To think that a U.S. President would lie and manipulate the emotions of his people to start a war used to be an inconceivable notion. Sadly, it is no longer inconceivable; it happened. I'm just thankful it didn't happen yet again. So while it may seem o so long ago that America had a President who actually benefitted the country, I remind you with hope that there is only a year to go. I just hope and pray that America doesn't make the same mistake next November as it did in 2000 (or should I say the Supreme Court made in 2000)? It's time to elect a leader that America can trust; that America can respect, who is for peace; who puts the people first; who can admit when he/she is wrong. Its time for America to elect a leader who will actually lead.

No End In Sight

It has been reported by the Washington Post that the Bush administration is seeking to have the Iraqi government complete reform legislation that has been long delayed within the next six months.  One of our envoy's will again try to end the political deadlock.

 

Once again the time line has been pushed back by this President.  When he announced the surge, September was going to be the time to judge.  When September came and only 3 of 18 conditions were met, it was given another 3 months.  Now Bush is giving them another 6 months which pushes the original time line to June 2008.

 

Mr. Bush continues to be wrong about everything concerning Iraq.  It is a bottomless pit for taking American and Iraqi lives and the billions of dollars already consumed and Mr. Bush is pressing for more.  The American people should note that with all the talk about Iraq being safer, 38 american troops were killed in October and November.  That number stayed steady, and we have some people who want this war and occupation to go on forever. 

 

This war is not worth one more american death.  Too many have already been killed and wounded over WMD that did not exist.  If the people keep reminding Congress of the reasons Bush gave for going to war, Congress would end this sad chapter in American history. 

Nuclear Arms In The Middle East

I wrote a commentary on November 14 concerning Israel, India, and Pakistan having stockpiles of nuclear and other WMD and not being a part of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as other nations are.  Now it has been revealed through newly released documents from the Nixon Presidential Library, that in 1969, Nixon and his close advisers were worried about a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.  Their worry was Israel's development of a Nuclear capacity.  National security advisor Henry Kissinger wrote Nixon a memorandum and pointed out that the Israelis are probably more likely than almost any other country to actually use their nuclear weapons.  Kissinger also said this is one program on which the Israelis has persistently deceived America and may even have stolen from America.

 

That was 38 years ago.  Just think what kind of WMD arsenal Israel must have at this time and it is unchecked by the United States and the international community.  It is time for the U.S. and other countries to demand Israel open its facilities to inspection.  

 

The leaders of Israel are too unstable to have this unchecked arsenal of WMD.  They would just as soon put our country in harms way to further their own ambition in the Middle East and the world.  They use their military power with impunity and they continue to build and extend their settlements on Palestinian land.  Is it any wonder why India and Pakistan developed a nuclear weapons program?  And is it any wonder why Iran may want to have a nuclear capacity when Israel can use its military with impunity?

 

The United States needs to re-evaluate its foreign policy with Israel.  No more blank checks and automatic backing.  Israel needs to earn our support like any other country.  Israel's powerful lobby in the U.S. needs to be kept at arms length.  The leaders of Israel can not be trusted; they lie.  And for those who think otherwise about Israel, they should read the book, "Body of Secrets" by James Bamford and judge for themselves.

Diplomacy: Democrats Force Realty On Bush

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in a lecture at Kansas State University ,said that the U.S. must improve its diplomacy.  He is asking for an increase in not only his department's budget but also the State Department budget.  Gates said we must focus our energies beyond the guns and steel of the military and that there is a need for dramatic increases in spending on the civilian instruments of national security.  That is an astounding statement coming from someone in this administration.  (Diplomacy has always been a part of Democratic administrations concerning national security.)

 

Gates pronouncements is an admission of Mr. Bush's failed foreign policy that has been based on the U.S.'s military might which led to the war and occupation in Iraq over WMD that did not exist.  The people realized long ago that diplomacy was abandoned by Mr. Bush.  Gates has followed the same path with the surge and continuation of the war in Iraq.  They are both trying now to salvage what is left of their reputations.  Gates wants more money for his department even as spending for his department is at record levels and that does not include the billions spent for the war.  That money could be better used for more important issues.  Diplomacy for one.

 

Mr. Gates supported the military option in Iraq over diplomacy.  We know from his and Bush's statements that they want a permanent U.S. presence in Iraq.  Will they define that as military diplomacy?  The civilian instruments of national security would be a better choice.  The Democratic position on diplomacy through many past presidents have served our nation well and kept our country safe.  They answered the military call when it was necessary to protect our national interest but never was in fear of using diplomacy.  They also kept our country free of such a massive foreign terror attack as occurred on 9-11.

 

Mr. Bush's arrogance, reckless behavior and lack of true diplomacy lost him the moral mantle of world leadership that America was known to possess.  Diplomacy could have saved the lives of thousands of Americans and Iraqis in the war in Iraq if Mr. Bush had used his responsibility as a leader with wisdom.  America's role in the world today has been tainted by the President's reckless behavior.  If he and Gates are ready to use diplomacy as an admission of their failure, let them start with Iraq and bring this war to an end with diplomacy.  It is not to late.

New Reports Paint Bad Picture

There are two new reports out concerning the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.  The war in Afghanistan is in its 6th year and the war in Iraq has been going on for almost 5 years and neither report paints a favorable picture.

 

The Washington Post reported that strategic goals that the Bush administration set out for 2007 in Afghanistan have not been met according to a White House assessment.  Individual battles with the Taliban have been successful, but the Taliban has had unchallenged expansion into new territory.  The U.S. military and intelligence have sharp differences as to where the war is going.

 

2007 has been the deadliest year for U.S. forces in Afghanistan.  The U.S. and NATO forces clear an area out and hold on to it  for a while only for it to be taken back by the Taliban.  The war is being fought in no man's land.  The Reagan-Bush administration armed the Taliban to fight the Soviet occupation and now the Taliban is fighting the U.S. and NATO occupation.  After 6 years there is still no one who can tell the American people how the war will turn out and how many more Americans will lose their lives in an unstable country in an unstable part of the world.

 

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports Al-Hakim, leader of the Supreme Islamic Iraq Council, said that the U.S. has not backed up claims that Iran is fueling violence in Iraq.  Al-Hakim spent years in exile in Iran and is considered close to Iran's leaders.  Al-Hakim is also thought to be Iraq's most influential Shiite politician.

 

I wrote in several past commentaries that however and whenever this war ends, Iraq and Iran will be allies.  The Shiite majority in both countries will stand together.  It is past time to bring our troops home.  One more American death will be too many.  Saddam is long gone, there were no WMD, and we are not fighting the people who are responsible for the tragic events of 9-11.  The new leaders of Australia and Poland have it right.  Both parties in Congress have to get their act together and end the Iraq war as well as work on a solution for the growing violence in Afghanistan.

The Iraq War---the Effect on our Military

FACT: desertion rates for the U.S. Army are up 80% since the Iraq war started.  It is at its highest level since 1980 according to Roy Wallace, Director of Plans and Resources for Army personnel as reported by the Associated Press.

 

The desertion rate jumped 42% just over the past year.  One of the reasons is repeated tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The Army has been stretched to the breaking point because of this and will only be reversed by an increase in Army personnel.

 

This is the war that was supposed to be a cakewalk.  The President, Vice President, and the other neocons who clamored for this war and told America we would be welcomed with open arms have done an injustice to our men and women in uniform.  Almost 53 months ago Mr. Bush landed on an aircraft carrier and proclaimed "mission accomplished" and that "major combat operations were ended."  And now as we speak, 53 months later, our brave men and women in uniform are still paying the ultimate price over a war and occupation over WMD that did not exist. 

 

The reckless, arrogant, and casual way this president took our country to war with out the proper planning and equipment to protect our troops in a prolong war was irresponsible and flagrant.  The President and many Republicans are still in denial.  The fallout from this unnecessary war continues to worsen on a daily basis. 

 

The President could end this war tomorrow if he had the character to do so, but he lacks the wisdom to do so because he can not admit to any mistakes.  In fact he has already told the people the next President will have to deal with the problem.  A truly strong leader would put our country and our men and women in uniform first.  Bush doesn't.  I hope the American people elect someone in '08 who will.  

The Key To Ending The War: The News Media

Yes, there is a way to end this unnecessary war in Iraq.  And it can happen rather quickly if the news media cooperates.  It was television journalists who failed to seek the truth concerning Iraq having WMD in the lead up to the war, mainly because they let themselves be intimated by the President.

 

This is what television journalists should do.   Rerun all the speeches Mr. Bush gave the american people during the run up to war in Iraq when he repeated over and over he knew for sure Iraq possessed WMD that were stockpiled and ready to use against america or transferred to terrorists.  Rerun his speeches over and over every night so the people would be reminded just how reckless this president was and still is.  Rerun all his speeches about Saddam trying to buy uranium from Niger and trying to tie Iraq to the tragic events of 9-11. 

 

Rerun the president's speeches when he told the people Iraq reconstituted its nuclear program and then talked about a "mushroom cloud".  Then rerun over and over all the other charges he made about Iraq that were completely false.  Journalists need to step up to the plate to make up for their own reckless behavior by promoting on their own that Iraq had these WMD.

 

Mr. Bush has always tried to change history and change the reason why he took the country to war in Iraq after no WMD were found.  Rerunning his speeches will remind the people of the real reasons he is so incompetent and the real reasons why he started this war and blatantly misled the American people.  And most importantly it will remind the American people why there needs to be change in '08.  

America's Right to Privacy----Under Siege

The Patriot Act, surveillance without a warrant, and torture----all in the name of protecting America by the most secret administration in history.  And make no mistake about it, the secrecy started prior to the tragic events of 9-11.  The President believes privacy is only a right for himself and his administration, but not for the American people.

 

And now it has been reported that Donald Kerr, a deputy director of national intelligence, wants the American people to change their definition of privacy.  In fact, he is quoted as saying privacy can no longer mean anonymity.  He wants government and businesses to safeguard people's private communications and financial information. (From Associated Press writer Pamela Hess)

 

Mr. Bush and the intelligence community want to shield telecommunication companies from lawsuits for giving the government access to people's private emails and phone calls with out a court order.  After the WMD fiasco concerning Iraq and the leaking of Valerie Plame's name, can anyone imagine trusting this administration or intelligence when it deals with protecting the privacy of millions of Americans?  The closer this administration gets to leaving office the more the people are going to discover just how reckless this President and his administration have been.

 

Telecommunication companies who turn over private records of  American citizens to intelligence agencies without a court order deserve no protection.  Those companies who said no to our government agencies when asked to do so without a court order should continue to stand tall.  It is called checks and balances and being patriotic the patriotic way. 

 

We know that this administration met with oil, gas, and other energy companies behind closed doors and never revealed what took place.  In fact they fought to keep their discussions secret.  Now we have lived with the most sustained price increase for oil and is now in the $90 barrel range. 

 

The absence of checks and balances during the run up to war in Iraq led to the President misleading the American people and the Congress.  Because of this administration,  men and women in uniform were committed to a war and occupation in Iraq over WMD that did not exist.  This administration has already failed the test.  No american should trust this administration to protect their privacy.  

Trouble Ahead: Pakistan, India, and Israel

All three countries have stockpiles of nuclear weapons and other WMD according to the experts.  None of them participate in the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty.  The United States, Britain, France, Russia, China are all involved in the treaty, and yes, so is Iran.  The administration talks almost daily about the dangers of the proliferation of these WMD to other countries and parties, yet we have no foreign policy to put pressure on these 3 countries to join the treaty and open up their nuclear plants to inspection.  Has any one heard Mr. Bush, or for that matter any Republican, talk about this issue?

 

Now we have Pakistan  being declared in a state of emergency by President Pervez Musharraf.  He is still chief of staff of the Army and the Army is in charge of maintaining the order.  Finally after 6 years and $10 billion for Pakistan the administration is asking Mr. Musharraf to give up his Army role.  The country is in turmoil and the  Pakistani Army and Pakistani intelligence are in charge of protecting and preserving their nuclear stockpile.  Members of this administration and others say they believe the weapons are safe.  But suppose the Army splits and tries to overthrow their President, then how safe would those stockpiles be?  Remember, Mr. Musharraf himself came into power with a coup.

 

Adding to the mixture is former prime minister Benazir Bhutto back in Pakistan from exile.  The administration seems to favor her sharing power with Musharraf.  He does not seem to take to kind to that approach and just recently had her under house arrest.  The Shah of Iran was put in power by the United States and everyone knows what happened to that country down the road.   

 

It is past time for the U.S. and other governments to put pressure on Israel, Pakistan, and India to join the non-proliferation treaty and open up their facilities for inspection.  Is that too much to ask for in this dangerous world? I think not.  All three countries are in a part of the world that is unstable and is prone to radical ideas.  That's reason enough in my estimation.  

The Fallout Continues

Six more Americans died in Iraq Tuesday despite the surge in troops that started many months ago.  Those deaths pushed the total of Americans killed in Iraq to a record level for 2007, surpassing the previous level in 2004.  Our troops are still being killed by road side bombs, and in the 56th month of this war, our men and women in uniform still do not have the proper equipment to keep them safe.  The fallout caused by this war still continues over WMD that did not exist.

 

At the same time it has been reported by Colita Baldor of the Associated Press that the Pentagon is quietly looking for ways to make it easier for people with criminal records to join the military because of higher recruiting goals.  The fallout from this unnecessary war has no bottom.  The reckless way Mr. Bush took this country to war in Iraq has had a negative effect on our young men and women who are of age to serve their country. 

 

Every journalist in America should be asking Mr. Bush every day when he is going to end this war and bring our troops home safely.  One would think that after 56 months Mr. Bush can give the country an answer.  Three months after Mr. Bush started this war he landed on an aircraft carrier and proclaimed "Mission Accomplished" and "Major Combat Operations" have ended.  Fifty three months later the Commander in Chief is still in denial.   

Iraq: Bush's Bottomless Money Pit

The President announced that he would seek $196.4 Billion more for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for the fiscal year beginning October 1, which is an increase from his previous announced $141.7 Billion.  This is the same President who recently vetoed a program to increase the children's health insurance program that was paid for by an increase in the tobacco taxes.  The Republicans in congress up held his veto.

 

Now it is time for congress to end the war with a date certain for a safe withdrawal of our troops and no longer fund the war beyond that date.  Congress should also pass legislation for the Defense Department to draw up plans for the safe withdrawal of our troops by that date certain.  The nation can not trust Mr. Bush to act properly or Presidential concerning this issue.

 

The war in Iraq is costing the U.S. over $10 Billion a month and total of over $500 billion since it began.  And more important than the cost of money, there is of course the cost of lives, all over WMD that did not exist.  It should also be noted the President has never intended to have a plan to pay for this war except to mortgage our children and grandchildren's future.

 

It is past time for congress to step in and put a stop to Mr. Bush's madness.  Our country, our people, and especially our men and women in uniform are paying a harsh price for Bush's reckless behavior and incompetence.

 

What we will begin to see now is the all to familiar spin of Mr. Bush.  He will direct people in his administration and our military leaders to go on the offense and tell the American people how wonderful everything is going in Iraq.  He and other Republicans already are using the "support our troops" or be branded as "unpatriotic" ultimatum. Republicans can not be allowed to tell the American people that those who are against the war are "unpatriotic".  It is a lie and it's wrong.  

 

The only thing for certain about this unnecessary war is that in the final analysis, when all is said and done, Iraq will be aligned with Iran and the billions of dollars spent by the U.S. because of Bush's policy will have gone for naught.

 

In the last few days we have seen the President plead with Turkey's prime minister Erdogan not to invade Iraq in pursuit of the PKK rebels who have been attacking Turkey.  Bush said that action would destabilize Iraq-----Bush should know since his own order to invade and occupy Iraq destabilized both it and the Middle East.

 

Make no mistake about the fact that the war itself proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was an unnecessary war over WMD that did not exist.  Saddam was a threat to no one except his own people.  George Bush knew those WMD did not exist.  I will cover that story in a future commentary.  In the meantime brace yourself for the coming spin for the fifth straight year about this war.