Monday, February 22, 2010

War Criminal Condi Rice still selling war lies

Well, I do not think I can tell you anything new about what we did in Iraq, but I can perhaps say something about what the Iraqis are doing themselves.
The Middle East is badly in need of democratic examples. In the modern age, it cannot be that an entire region is essentially without democratic governments with very, very few exceptions.
Iraq has been one of the worst tyrannies of the 21st century. That the Iraqis might be able to make their transition to democracy from their terrible tyranny that was there; but they might be able to do it in a multi-ethnic, multi-confessional society with Sunnis, Shia, Kurds and others all working together in a democratic institutions.
That will be new in the Middle East; and, there are some signs that they are doing precisely that and they have a long way to go and we are all holding our breath for the elections in March, that they will be open and fair and that all people would be represented.
But when I look at the campaign that is going on there, when I look at the brutal criticisms of their own government and other governments, I think they have quickly taken to some of the most important habits of democracy, which is not to be fearful of your own government.

That's Condi Rice, still not getting it Abuja, quoted by Sufuyan Ojeifo (This Day). Condi No One Could Have Guessed Rice still doesn't get it. She thinks democracy has taken hold in Iraq? What kind of idiot is she? The smartest thing she could do is just stop speaking in public. No one needs to hear from her, no one wants to her from her unless it's on the witness stand as she's tried for her role in War Crimes. The woman still has no clue. The only thing more ludicrous than Condi Rice are idiots like Rachel Maddow shoring up War Criminal Colin Powell and his flunky. There should no rehabilitation for the War Criminals. Isaiah's "The 'Fashionable' Conoleeza de Vil" from June 22, 2005.

The blood of the dead drips from her. She needs to take her lying ass and sit it down, there is no need to hear from her again until her death bed confession.

And it's not as though she has anything to offer. She's still lying. Iraq's falling apart, there's no chance in the world at "fair and free" elections there currently but she just can't stop lying.

The illegal war started in March 2003 and it continues. Mike Clary (Florida Sun Sentinel) reports that Florida National Guard members have completed their training in Texas and will be deploying to Iraq next week and "there is a seriousness of purpose among these men – and about 20 women – in the battalion, part of yearlong deployment of 2,500 members of the 53rd Combat Brigade. That represents the largest deployment of Florida National Guard troops since World War II." Jodi Baker (WOWT -- link has text and video option) reports on the over 700 members of the Nebraska National Guard who are preparing to deploy in the summer to Iraq or Afghanistan. John Tompkins (The Facts) reports on Ryan McDonald's preparing for Iraq deployment in a few weeks with McDonald explaining that right now, "I'm just visiting with my family as much as I can." Bryan Horwatch (Dunn County News) reports that Mary Lemke's three sons -- 19-year-old Lance Lemke, 21-year-old Greg Lemke, Jr. and 27-year-old Curtis Anderson -- are gearing up for deployment to Iraq along with other members of the Wisconsin Army National Guard.

Sgt Tresa L. ALlenmang (Town Talk) reports from Camp Shelby on the Louisiana National Guard training for deploying to Iraq and quotes Command Sgt Maj William E. Migues stating, "Though our mission in Iraq is very important, our biggest mission is to ensure that everyone gets home safely." Sandy Davis (Advocate) reports on the Camp Shelby training as well while the Daily Advertiser (link has text and video) reports of the training:

A convoy of armored vehicles, led by a pickup marked as an Iraqi police vehicle rolled into view.
Role-players dressed as Iraqi citizens, some of whom actually are expatriots, talked excitedly and motiioned to the convoy with fruits, rugs and other wares for sale.
A sudden explosion from an improvised explosive device threw the scene into action as troops opened fire on insurgents in the staged training exercise.
Fittingly called ambush training, it was all part of the drill for Guard troops preparing for a variety of duties in a deployment likely to last about 400 days.

CNN, AP and Iran's Press TV report on yesterday's helicopter crash which claimed the lives of 2 US service members. The Hillsboro Journal-News reports that Sgt Heath Theriac was injured serving in Basra on Sunday, February 14th along with a "Sgt. Simmons" from an explosion "which struck each of the humvees the men riding in as gunners."

And Condi wants to pretend she and her ilk accomplished a damn thing? She wants to pretend she 'gifted' freedom when all she did was start a never-ending blood bath? And she wants to lie the same way she lied while Secretary of State that things are going swimmingly? In this morning's Washington Post, Jackson Diehl offers a take on those wonderful elections Condi's so jazzed over and who is one of the prime moves in them:

First among these is Iran, which has a simple strategy for the coming months: Turn the elections into a bitter sectarian battle -- and thereby ensure that the next government will be led by its hard-line Shiite allies.
To an alarming extent, the campaign is succeeding. Tehran's leading agent, as both Hill and Odierno noted, is Ahmed Chalabi, a Shiite who in 2002 played a major role in persuading the Bush administration to go to war. Now he has managed to have hundreds of candidates eliminated from the election on the mostly bogus grounds that they were or are loyalists of Saddam Hussein's Baath party. His targets are not just Sunni leaders but secular nationalists -- the two most important banned candidates are leading members of cross-sectarian alliances. The success of those tickets would be a triumph for Iraqi democracy -- and a huge setback for Iran.
Chalabi aims to become prime minister of the next government, which would be a disaster for Iraq and for Washington. And worse outcomes are possible. Also angling for power are Bayan Jabr, a Shiite who oversaw the interior ministry when it was infamous for torture and death squads; and Ibrahim Jaafari, who as prime minister oversaw the eruption of the sectarian war of 2006-07.

But don't worry, Condi's constituency was Big Business, not the Iraqi people and Big Business cleaned up good. For example, GE announced a $200 million contract just last week:

BAGHDAD, IRAQ -- February 17, 2010 -- GE (NYSE:GE) today announced the signing of contracts totaling approximately US$200 million to supply power generation equipment and services for two independent power projects in the Kurdistan region of Northern Iraq. The two projects will help support the region’s current and future power needs and the country’s overall efforts to develop its energy infrastructure.

Located in the Dohuk and Sulaimaniyah provinces of Kurdistan, both projects are being developed by Mass Global Investment Company, a leading developer of independent power plants. When the new projects are completed, it is expected that the total electricity capacity of Mass Global-developed power plants in the Kurdistan region will reach 1,750 megawatts, to help meet the increasing power demand.

GE will supply four Frame 9E gas turbine-generator units for the 500-megawatt, simple-cycle power plant in Dohuk; and two Frame 9E gas turbine-generator units to add 250 megawatts of capacity to the plant in Sulaimaniyah, for a total generating capacity of 750 megawatts. The two plants are scheduled to enter commercial service in the second half of 2010.

“These two projects are the latest in a series of independent power projects we are developing to help cover the shortage of power within the Kurdistan region. They also support the Kurdistan regional government’s initiative for the private sector to help meet the energy requirements in this region,” said Ahmad Ismail, chairman of Mass Global.

"Today’s announcement for the two private power projects in the Kurdistan region reflects GE’s continuing commitment to support energy infrastructure growth in Iraq and builds on our recent power generation agreements with the government of Iraq. This latest agreement also builds on our growing relationship with Mass Global to support their efforts to add much-needed electricity generation capacity in the Northern region of the country,” said Joseph Anis, GE Energy’s president for the Middle East.

Over the last four years, GE has supplied gas turbines for independent power projects developed by Mass Global in the Kurdistan region, which would help to add approximately 1,000 megawatts of generating capacity.

The latest contracts with Mass Global follow an announcement in 2008 that GE will supply the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity with power generation equipment for projects throughout Iraq that will help to add approximately 7,600 megawatts of electricity to support the country’s future economic growth.

GE has a long history of supporting Iraqi infrastructure needs in power generation, oil and gas, water processing, aviation and healthcare and over 120 GE power turbines are installed in the country today.

As the world’s leading supplier of gas turbines, GE is well positioned to help Iraq with its future needs for reliable and stable power generation. More than 6,000 GE gas turbines are installed worldwide and have accumulated more than 200 million of operating experience at high reliability levels. GE’s Frame 9 gas turbines, which will be used for the Iraqi projects, have demonstrated high reliability and performance in more than 450 applications around the world.

GE has been active in the Middle East since the 1930s and has management and project management offices as well as local repair and service facilities to serve customers throughout the region.

About GE

GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that's built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide.

GE serves the energy sector by developing and deploying technology that helps make efficient use of natural resources. With 60,000 global employees and 2009 revenues of US$37 billion, GE Energy www.ge.com/energy is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies. The businesses that comprise GE Energy—GE Power & Water, GE Energy Services and GE Oil & Gas—work together to provide integrated product and service solutions in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels.

For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.ge.com GE is imagination at work.

For more information, contact:

Cynthia Mahoney White
GE Power & Water
+1 518 385 5892
cynthiam.white@ge.com

Ken Darling or Howard Masto
Masto Public Relations
+1 518 786 6488
kenneth.darling@ge.com
howard.masto@ge.com

Bonnie reminds that Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "Barack, Corporate, Tauzin and Baucus" wemt up last night. Meanwhile AmpedStatus offers "Part IV: The Financial Coup d'Etat - The Economic Elite Vs. The People of the United States of America" -- part four of their six-part series:

The entire bailout is strategically designed to eliminate the US middle class. Every time you hear the word "bailout," you should think "coup d'etat." [Read More]

An e-mail to the public account asked that we note the following links:

Zionism Unmasked: A fairy tale that's become a terrifying nightmare

Zionism Unmasked: Chutzpah, thy name is Zionism

Zionism Unmasked: End of Zionism = Peace

Perspectives on Zionism by Paul Balles

Special Series on Zionism - Salem-News.Com Tim King Salem-News.com

I haven't had time to read them and only recognize Tim King's name. If you're e-mailing the public account, I do not open attachments, no one reading the e-mails opens attachments and we do not e-mail you back to say, "Didn't read, it was an attachment." Just FYI regarding four other e-mails this morning. One more thing for those e-mailing the public account to have something highlgihted, I'll call Hillary out if I feel it's needed. I did so last week. I know Hillary and have known her for years. That won't prevent me from calling her out. HOWEVER, do not send me your rag on Hillary pieces. They will not be noted. You gave up your rights to be seen as objective on her in 2008 when you refused to call out the vile sexism because your attitude was, "Oh, it's just Hillary and I hate her." As a result, I don't give a damn -- no, I don't give a f**k what you think about Hillary. I don't want to hear it, I don't want to read it. Don't e-mail it to me, it will not be highlighted. You stayed silent in the face of sexism and that is not forgotten by me nor is it forgiven.

The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "Barack, Corporate, Tauzin and Baucus"

Isaiah's latest The World Today Just Nuts "Barack, Corporate, Tauzin and Baucus." A glum Barack holds a bottle of scope as he lays in bed with a Corporate Pig who informs him, "I'm going to need you to toss my salad again in about 15 minutes." In bed next to them are uber-lobbyist Billy Tauzin and a gleeful Max Baucus who declares, "Corporate give away is back baby!" Isaiah archives his comics at The World Today Just Nuts.

the world today just nuts
comic
barack obama
max baucus
billy tauzin
barack corporate tauzin and baucus
the common ills

And the war drags on . . .

Michael Jansen (Irish Times) reports on what is following in the wake of yesterday's announcement by the National Dialogue Front that they are withdrawing from the election: "the National Council for Tribes of Iraq siad it would" withdraw from the elections. Oliver August (Times of London) reveals:

International observers have significantly lowered their expectations for the poll in recent days. Few diplomats in Baghdad now talk about "free and fair elections", since they clearly won't be. The new publicly stated goal is a "credible election", but even that seems doubtful.
Pressed to sketch out a best-case scenario, several diplomats talk of an election that, despite its flaws, is merely accepted by the people. This is far from the democracy once envisaged. The new outlook is a significant reversal. Stability and reconciliation between the sects seemed a distinct possibility until a few months ago, but the decision to disallow Mr Mutlaq's candidacy on spurious grounds has reversed Iraq’s positive momentum.

The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative in Iraq, Ad Melkert, tried to stamp a happy face on the process and declared today, "Generally speaking, I should say that the elections are on track in terms of their technical preparation. Still, a lot needs to be done. Security remains a big challenge to all, to the Iraqis in the first place, but also to the international community." Martin Chulov (Guardian) offers this background, "The call for a boycott was made by Saleh al-Mutlaq, an MP who leads the National Dialogue Front, a leading Sunni party. It is part of a cross-sectarian Iraqiya electoral alliance, formed to contest the 7 March ballot. Al-Mutlaq was on a list of 511 individuals banned from standing in elections because of their connection to the old Baathist regime. The list has now been reduced to 145. Ahmed Chalabi, the former Pentagon favourite, has been aggressively defending the list as part of a new de-Baathification drive through a body called the Accountability and Justice Commission." Gulf News editorializes, "It is important for any election to be fair that all the rules of contest are defined well in advance. It is wrong that candidates have been banned a few weeks before the elections. They should have known years in advance that their previous records would not allow them to hold public office and their sympathisers and supporters would be able to find candidates to represent their views without breaking the law." Liz Sly (Los Angeles Times) offers, ". . . Sunnis and many secularists in the Shiite community are so eager to overturn the dominance of the Shiite religious parties that have controlled Iraq's government for five years that it is unclear whether Mutlak's boycott call will have weight with many people." UAE's The National counters, "Not only does it threaten the legitimacy of the poll, but the last time Sunni parties boycotted the elections in 2005, it exacerbated a cycle of violence that almost drove the country into civil war. It is hard to fault the decision of the party's leader, Saleh al Mutlaq. He and hundreds of other banned politicians are the victims of blatant political manipulation. Regardless, they must be careful; there is more at stake than their own political careers." Leila Fadel (Washington Post) adds, "Iraqi officials said Saturday that meetings with Mutlak and his group were ongoing. Mutlak could not be reached for comment. "

Elections are March 7th. Barack Obama hid behind the elections to delay the start of his 'draw down.' And what's been accomplished? Not a thing. As was true during the Bush years, the diplomatic mission has never been there, has never had its act together and should never have been used as an excuse to keep US troops on the ground in Iraq for even one day. There has been no diplomatic accomplishment, no diplomatic success. The only thing worse than starting the illegal war has been Bush and now Barack's desire to continue it.

They're just there to try and make the people free,
But the way that they're doing it, it don't seem like that to me.
Just more blood-letting and misery and tears
That this poor country's known for the last twenty years,
And the war drags on.
-- words and lyrics by Mick Softly (available on Donovan's Fairytale)

Last Sunday, ICCC's number of US troops killed in Iraq since the start of the illegal war was 4376. Tonight? 4378. Today the US military announced: "CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – Two U.S. Army helicopter pilots were killed as a result of an accident near an airfield on a U.S. base in northern Iraq, Feb. 21. The aircraft made a hard landing inside the base. There were no enemy forces present and no hostile fire was reported. The accident is under investigation and release of the Soldiers’ identities are being withheld pending notification of the next of kin. The name of the deceased Soldiers will be announced through the U.S. Department of Defense Official Web site at http://www.defenselink.mil/. The Task Force Marne command team mourns the loss of these two aviators and extends its deepest sympathies and condolences to their Families."

In other reported violence . . .

Bombings?

Reuters notes a Madaen house bombing in which three people were wounded, a Baghdad sticky bombing which injured two people, a Khanaqin roadside bombing which claimed the lives of 5 police officers (and wounded another), a Tikrit suicide bombing claimed the life of the bomber, 1 other person and left six people injured and a Hawija roadside bombing which injured one person.

Shootings?

Reuters notes an attack on pilgrims in Taji that claimed 1 life and left seven injured and a Mosul drive by in which 1 police officer was shot dead.

New content at Third:

Isaiah latest goes up after this entry and Pru notes this editorial from Great Britain's Socialist Worker:

Attitudes to rape are forged by the state

The results of a survey this week about rape led to much media comment—and baffled reactions about the attitudes it recorded among people in Britain.

According to the report by the Haven service for rape victims, 50 percent of the female respondents believed that victims should take some responsibility for their attack.

Large numbers of men also believed that women who have been raped were to blame in some circumstances.

Such attitudes are not a result of individual ignorance. They reflect a much wider view of women’s place in society and of systematic women’s oppression.

There is a long history of the legal system, judges, police chiefs and politicians trivialising rape or suggesting that women are to blame for it.

Until 1994 judges were obliged by law to tell juries that they should seek corroboration of the alleged crime as “women and small children tend to lie about these matters”.

These ideas continue to dominate the courts. In 2007, a judge allowed a paedophile who allegedly molested an 11-year-old girl to escape jail when the judge ruled the victim had “welcomed” his advances.

And today, although attitudes are officially more enlightened, it’s estimated that only 5 percent of women who are raped report it.

Just one in 14 reported cases result in a conviction.

Failed

As recently as last September, figures gained after a Freedom of Information request showed that some police forces failed to record over 40 percent of rape complaints.

Police in Durham said they only ruled five out of 130 rape allegations were not in fact crimes. Yet a further 83 cases were never officially recorded in the first place.

Many of the newspapers that affected surprise at the recent survey consistently portray women as mindless objects who are to be judged solely on their looks and then “won”.

For some people that encourages the attitude that women are things to be “bought”—or seized.

Others newspapers blamed women in different ways.

The Telegraph blamed the “uninhibited ‘ladette’ culture” for “fuelling a disturbing new ambivalence towards the crime of rape, particularly among women”.

The Mirror’s columnist Sue Carroll managed to use the report to attack Muslims: “A survey tells us half of women think rape victims are to blame for the crime because they wear short skirts or accept a drink…

“Who on earth did they ask, women in burqas?”

She went on to say that the issue was “mired in confusion” because of the views of “hardline feminists” and that it is “downright stupidity” to be “someone prevaricating over whether to say ‘no’ in a man’s bed”.

Is it any surprise, when such ideas are put forward as “common sense”, that many people end up blaming people who have been raped?

The continuing struggle for women’s emancipation involves an absolute assertion that, in all circumstances, no means no—and that rape victims need support, not scapegoating.

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