Thursday, October 27, 2011

I Hate The War

Charles Hoskinson (POLITICO) reports independent Joe Lieberman has joined with 10 other senators (all Republicans) who serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee to call for a hearing on the Iraq withdrawal:

In a letter released Thursday, the senators said the administration has sent conflicting signals on whether any troops would remain in Iraq. While Obama’s announcement “apparently ends negotiations between the United States and the Government of Iraq on a long-term training and stability force of sufficient size to protect both U.S. and Iraqi enduring national security interests,” the letter noted that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has also said the U.S. will continue talks with the Iraqis.


If the administration has nothing to hide, if the Democrats on the Committee feel that the administration has nothing to hide, I'm sure they'll schedule a hearing. And if there's no hearing scheduled, if the Democrats on the Committee block the hearing, then that'll be another answer, won't it.

I had planned to address a number of issues in the e-mails but that's not happening. How come? Musical interlude.


It's over, I'm done writing songs about love
There's a war going on
So I'm holding my gun with a strap and a glove
And I'm writing a song about war
And it goes
Na na na na na na na
I hate the war
Na na na na na na na
I hate the war
Na na na na na na na
I hate the war
Oh oh oh oh
-- "I Hate The War" (written by Greg Goldberg, on The Ballet's Mattachine!)

Last Thursday, ICCC's number of US troops killed in Iraq since the start of the illegal war was 4482. Tonight it is [PDF format warning] 4485. Here's the screen snap:

102711

Well we know about Steven Shapiro. That was a death that was identified by DoD -- even though USF never made the announcement of a death. There was Pfc Shapiro and . . .

Who are the other two?

DoD announced today: "The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation New Dawn. Sgt. 1st Class David G. Robinson, 28, of Winthrop Harbor, Ill., died Oct. 25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He was assigned to the U.S. Army Support Activity, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. For more information the media may contact Maj. Charlie Barrett at Third Army/U.S. Army Central public affairs at 803-885-8875 or charlie.barrett@arcent.army.mil." And they announced Tuesday, "The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation New Dawn. Capt. Shawn P. T. Charles, 40, of Hickory, N.C., died Oct. 23 in San Antonio, Texas, from a non-combat illness. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. For more information the media may contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at 254-287-9993, via the internet at http://www.forthoodpresscenter.com , or email query@forthoodpresscenter.com ."

3 deaths since last Thursday. The Iraq War's supposed to be ending. And apparently the press has traded in "if it bleeds, it leads" for "if it misleads, it leads." I would think three deaths were far more important, for example, than an article on a circus going to Baghdad to entertain the children of the wealthy.

The press isn't interested in doing their job, are they?

Daniel Smith, American journalist, was arrested last Friday in Baghdad and held until Wednesday and I'm sorry the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, NPR, CNN, etc. were going to tell us that story when?

It's really amazing how much gets buried. We have to count on a Senate committee to get the answers to questions the press has avoided answering.

What really is the point of the press? How much working can you do and still live with yourself? I understand a go-go flash in the pan at the Times now has a major alcoholism problem. (He's no longer in Iraq.) I'm not surprised. I believe we pointed that out here several years ago, that there is a price to pay for whoring and that you can't escape these demons. Back then, I felt a little sorry for what was coming. My sympathy and empathy dried up some time ago for those who make the choice to whore.

The press refuses to their job as a result democracy grows more and more dysfunctional. Need more proof? Who the hell asked the American people if they wanted to foot the bill for the Libyan War or, for that matter, now for treatment of the so-called rebels? Released today by DoD:



Statement by Secretary Clinton and Secretary Panetta on Wounded Libyan Fighters Receiving U.S. Medical Care

After months of struggle and sacrifice, the Libyan people have liberated their country with the support of the United States and the international community. The violent dictator and his regime have collapsed. But Libya’s new freedom has come at a price in human life and suffering. Just as the United States and the international community stood with the Libyan people during the revolution, we continue to work with Libya to address urgent humanitarian needs.
Saturday, in response to a request by the Transitional National Council, the United States is transporting 24 seriously wounded fighters to Spaulding Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. An additional six critical cases will be transferred to Germany for immediate care. All of these patients were injured as a result of recent fighting and suffer from conditions that cannot currently be treated in Libya.
The United States offers this humanitarian gesture of emergency medical evacuation assistance as a small token of our support, because we are committed to Libya's future. We will continue to stand by the people of Libya and support them as a partner and friend as they build a new, democratic future.

Veterans in the US often have to jump through hoops for treatment and with no input from the public, a decision was made to bring in the so-called 'rebels' and treat them. Who's footing the bill? It should could come out of the State Dept and Defense Dept's budget since those foolish secretaries are trumpeting adding to the US debt at a time when we're supposedly tightening our belts.

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