Rumsfeld on Capitol Hill
I watched several hours of the hearing on CNN.
A few of Donald Rumsfeld's top generals saw pictures of the Iraqi detainee abuse on a CD disk back in January.
Rumsfeld claimed not to have seen any of the photos on the CD until last night at 7:30 p.m.
Clearly, his generals knew the scandal was going to be a serious problem, yet they did not inform the Secretary of Defense? He had to hear about it on "60 Minutes"?
What kind of chain of command does the Rumsfeld-led military possess?
Rumsfeld continually made two statements:
1. There are more than 18,000 DoD cases currently being investigated for possible courts martial so it's virtually impossible for him to know the details of each of them.
2. Things have to change now that digital and video cameras exist.
As to #1:
When cases like the sexual abuse, sadistic torture and probable murder of Iraqi detainees are under investigation, they should move up the chain of command for adjudication immediately. Rumsfeld's statement made it seem like all cases get processed in order, regardless of the severity of the accusation, and that he should hear about them only after they are processed and adjudicated. If that's not what he meant, he should have communicated more clearly.
As to #2:
The presence of digital & video cameras available to document criminal activity perpetrated by members of the military shouldn't matter. Seems like Rumsfeld was complaining that the cameras are causing a problem because they make it too easy for the public to learn of the military's dirty little secrets. If that's not what he meant, he shouldn't have mentioned the cameras at all.
The commander who oversaw the detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad also allowed for officers including colonels on up to be called by their first names. Uniforms were not required. Saluting officers was not required.
The Brigade General who commanded the unit that allowed this lapse of protocol and discipline was relieved of duty, as well she should have been.
She blames Army Intelligence (AI) for mismanagement of the prison.
Why was AI tasked with performing Army MP duties? That is blatantly against Army regulations.
Her superior officer is responsible for her lapse in performing her duties and for allowing AI to run things, if they were. He should be relieved of that command.
His superior officer allowed him to be negligent in supervising that command. He should be relieved of his command.
And up, up and up until changes are made, because a snake rots from the head.
Today, Rumsfeld said, "These events occurred on my watch. As secretary of defense, I am accountable for them and I take full responsibility."
If he truly means it, he is admitting that he is responsible for human rights violations that caused America international disgrace and will cause untold new peril for soldiers stationed all over the Middle East- particularly GI prisoners.
He also admitted there are more photos and more videos out there yet to surface in the media- showing rape, torture, sodomy and quite possibly even murder done by Americans to these Iraqi detainees.
When asked, he arrogantly said calls for him to resign are political.
Not this time.
He admitted he was responsible for a scandal that will take decades for America to live down.
He failed to create an environment that would not allow for atrocities like these to occur. He failed to tell his generals the consequences of such a scandal, so they didn't watch their underlings like, uhh, hawks.
He has failed to perform his duty.
He needs to resign, or be fired.
Enough.
Friday, May 07, 2004
Hell Yes, Rumsfeld Should Be Fired!
Rumsfeld knew about the torture of Iraqi detainees and prisoners as early as January and didn't do a damn thing about it.
He's incompetent as Secretary of Defense and his incompetence has created a global backlash of epic proportions against the United States.
Remember when the war started and American GI's were destroying priceless Iraqi antiquities including rare vases?
Rumsfeld said of the media reporting the incidents, "It's the same picture someone coming out of some building with a vase," Rumsfeld joked, "and you see it 20 times and you think, my goodness, were there that many vases? Is it possible that there were that many vases in the whole country?"
Rumsfeld pooh-poohed it all, saying: "Bad things do happen in life, and people do loot."
That same arrogance and stupidity seems to have been applied to his knowledge of the prisoner abuse, and his attitude flowed to the Oval Office.
Bush has lied about this war since the beginning.
He has also endorsed the misdeeds of his Cabinet Secretaries by refusing to fire them.
This time, he's either been kept out of the loop by his scheming Defense Secretary, or like Rummy, he knew and didn't do a damn thing to stop the torture of prisoners. No More Rape Rooms, Bush said.
Rumsfeld said guidelines set forth in the Geneva Convention relative to the treatment of prisoners of war didn't apply in this instance.
Yet he didn't hesitate to claim the Iraqis violated those same terms when they allowed audio interviews of American prisoners to be broadcasted.
Is he out of his fucking mind?
Yes, he is. Either that, or he's just so damned arrogant he thinks he's above the rules.
Bush said he, "wants to keep him in (sic) his cabinet."
Rumsfeld may indeed need to be kept in a cabinet, but he does not deserve to be kept on the president's cabinet.
Whatever Rumsfeld says today when he testifies on Capitol Hill won't be enough.
He fucked up. He blew it.
It's time for him to go.
Rumsfeld knew about the torture of Iraqi detainees and prisoners as early as January and didn't do a damn thing about it.
He's incompetent as Secretary of Defense and his incompetence has created a global backlash of epic proportions against the United States.
Remember when the war started and American GI's were destroying priceless Iraqi antiquities including rare vases?
Rumsfeld said of the media reporting the incidents, "It's the same picture someone coming out of some building with a vase," Rumsfeld joked, "and you see it 20 times and you think, my goodness, were there that many vases? Is it possible that there were that many vases in the whole country?"
Rumsfeld pooh-poohed it all, saying: "Bad things do happen in life, and people do loot."
That same arrogance and stupidity seems to have been applied to his knowledge of the prisoner abuse, and his attitude flowed to the Oval Office.
Bush has lied about this war since the beginning.
He has also endorsed the misdeeds of his Cabinet Secretaries by refusing to fire them.
This time, he's either been kept out of the loop by his scheming Defense Secretary, or like Rummy, he knew and didn't do a damn thing to stop the torture of prisoners. No More Rape Rooms, Bush said.
Rumsfeld said guidelines set forth in the Geneva Convention relative to the treatment of prisoners of war didn't apply in this instance.
Yet he didn't hesitate to claim the Iraqis violated those same terms when they allowed audio interviews of American prisoners to be broadcasted.
Is he out of his fucking mind?
Yes, he is. Either that, or he's just so damned arrogant he thinks he's above the rules.
Bush said he, "wants to keep him in (sic) his cabinet."
Rumsfeld may indeed need to be kept in a cabinet, but he does not deserve to be kept on the president's cabinet.
Whatever Rumsfeld says today when he testifies on Capitol Hill won't be enough.
He fucked up. He blew it.
It's time for him to go.
Thursday, May 06, 2004
Friends & Enemies
Friends: I didn't watch the last episode.
As it turns out, I don't care how it ends. Once Joey started shtupping Rachel, the show
jumped the shark.
Besides, where were all the black folks on that honky show?
Hell, I live in Texas and have more black friends than those New Yorkers.
It's just not right.
Enemies:
Here are a few haikus for George W. Bush to try to read.
Fire Don Rumsfeld
Fire Condoleezza Rice
Then fire Karl Rove
Bush, you are too weak
You are arrogant and smug
Not to mention dumb
Bush says he's sorry
to the King of Jordan...huh?
like it's his bidness
Bush apologized
to Jordan, because to Bush-
Arabs: whatever
This prison torture
Bush blames on gay marriages
His fans don't ask why
Bush fans don't ask much
but then they don't really know
shit from Shinola
Bush and his brothers
Not much difference 'tween them,
Uday and Qusay
Friends: I didn't watch the last episode.
As it turns out, I don't care how it ends. Once Joey started shtupping Rachel, the show
jumped the shark.
Besides, where were all the black folks on that honky show?
Hell, I live in Texas and have more black friends than those New Yorkers.
It's just not right.
Enemies:
Here are a few haikus for George W. Bush to try to read.
Fire Don Rumsfeld
Fire Condoleezza Rice
Then fire Karl Rove
Bush, you are too weak
You are arrogant and smug
Not to mention dumb
Bush says he's sorry
to the King of Jordan...huh?
like it's his bidness
Bush apologized
to Jordan, because to Bush-
Arabs: whatever
This prison torture
Bush blames on gay marriages
His fans don't ask why
Bush fans don't ask much
but then they don't really know
shit from Shinola
Bush and his brothers
Not much difference 'tween them,
Uday and Qusay
Survivor Tonight!
We are quickly closing in on the end, and after tonight's show, we'll see who wins the million on Sunday at 7 p.m. central.
Sunday will be the perfect TV day- first, the Spurs will humiliate the Lakers in their own crib, then the two hour Survivor finale, followed by a one-hour Survivor reunion show.
It may be unfathomable, but the tribe members failed to seize the chance to oust Boston Rob and Amber and now they are down to Amber, Big Tom, Rob, Rupert and Jenna.
As everyone assumed, Shii Ann got the boot last week.
She tried let everyone know that Amber was The Chosen One by casting her vote her way, but I doubt any of the remaining knuckleheads got the hint. Au revoir to the show's most tedious eye roller.
Most of us have said Rob is the horse to beat, but let's face it, Amber has played him like a $2 fiddle. I mean, come on.
Assuming she'll be the number two Survivor next to Rob, to whom do you think the jury would prefer to hand a million dollars, her or that sniveling, double crossing rat Rob?
Amber has used Rob to do her dirty work. She controls him with that joystick big dumb guys like him take such pride in. Atta girl, sistah!
In order of likelihood to be booted tonight, it's gotta be Tom, then Jenna, then Rupert.
Amber and Rob rode the waves like pros, and they are heading for the final two.
Why Tom? Because he's got no alliances. Plus, he's a dumb ass redneck. He once had Rupert but Rupe left him in the dust long ago, as evidenced by Tom getting the second to the last crappiest meal from the restaurant when Rupert was the host.
Yep, Rupert's been kissing Rob's ass for a while now, the sucker.
The All Stars show has been great because we got to see who learned from past mistakes and who didn't. We also got to see who came to play around and who came to win.
The final two? Rob and Amber.
The winner? Amber, who's reportedly already knocked up with Rob's baby.
Looks like she'll hold the final purse strings, but Rob'll hold the trump card: baby Rombah.
I think they played well and deserve to win, but I am glad it'll be likely Amber with the big money instead of Rob. It'll keep him humble, and the boy needs a big shitload of that.
Your take?
We are quickly closing in on the end, and after tonight's show, we'll see who wins the million on Sunday at 7 p.m. central.
Sunday will be the perfect TV day- first, the Spurs will humiliate the Lakers in their own crib, then the two hour Survivor finale, followed by a one-hour Survivor reunion show.
It may be unfathomable, but the tribe members failed to seize the chance to oust Boston Rob and Amber and now they are down to Amber, Big Tom, Rob, Rupert and Jenna.
As everyone assumed, Shii Ann got the boot last week.
She tried let everyone know that Amber was The Chosen One by casting her vote her way, but I doubt any of the remaining knuckleheads got the hint. Au revoir to the show's most tedious eye roller.
Most of us have said Rob is the horse to beat, but let's face it, Amber has played him like a $2 fiddle. I mean, come on.
Assuming she'll be the number two Survivor next to Rob, to whom do you think the jury would prefer to hand a million dollars, her or that sniveling, double crossing rat Rob?
Amber has used Rob to do her dirty work. She controls him with that joystick big dumb guys like him take such pride in. Atta girl, sistah!
In order of likelihood to be booted tonight, it's gotta be Tom, then Jenna, then Rupert.
Amber and Rob rode the waves like pros, and they are heading for the final two.
Why Tom? Because he's got no alliances. Plus, he's a dumb ass redneck. He once had Rupert but Rupe left him in the dust long ago, as evidenced by Tom getting the second to the last crappiest meal from the restaurant when Rupert was the host.
Yep, Rupert's been kissing Rob's ass for a while now, the sucker.
The All Stars show has been great because we got to see who learned from past mistakes and who didn't. We also got to see who came to play around and who came to win.
The final two? Rob and Amber.
The winner? Amber, who's reportedly already knocked up with Rob's baby.
Looks like she'll hold the final purse strings, but Rob'll hold the trump card: baby Rombah.
I think they played well and deserve to win, but I am glad it'll be likely Amber with the big money instead of Rob. It'll keep him humble, and the boy needs a big shitload of that.
Your take?
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Come November: Vote Absentee
By now, almost everyone knows many states will be using electronic voting machines in the presidential election, allegedly to avoid the same kind of debacle that allowed Jeb Bush, the Governor of Florida, to work with the GOP-loving Supreme Court and hand big brother George W. Bush the presidency.
We also know Diebold makes the new voting machines and the owner is a major campaign contributor to the Bush reelection campaign.
Also common knowledge is the machines can be easily tampered with. Google "Diebold voting machines" and read about these lousy machines for yourself.
If you are like me, you know the Bush administration is dishonest, manipulative, secretive and guilty of criminal malfeasance that spans the entire gamut of the executive branch of the government.
If you are like me, you know with all certainty that they will not hesitate to manipulate the votes come November and steal another term in office. They will be desperate. Their freedom from criminal prosecution depends on it.
Stop them.
By voting absentee, you can create a paper trail they cannot deny, alter or delete with a key stroke.
Vote absentee.
Volunteer to drive the elderly and/or disabled to vote absentee.
Tell your loved ones and neighbors to vote absentee, and tell them why, so they can tell others.
Do not trust these electronic voting machines, unless you plan to vote for Bush.
If that's the case, may God help restore you to sanity.
By now, almost everyone knows many states will be using electronic voting machines in the presidential election, allegedly to avoid the same kind of debacle that allowed Jeb Bush, the Governor of Florida, to work with the GOP-loving Supreme Court and hand big brother George W. Bush the presidency.
We also know Diebold makes the new voting machines and the owner is a major campaign contributor to the Bush reelection campaign.
Also common knowledge is the machines can be easily tampered with. Google "Diebold voting machines" and read about these lousy machines for yourself.
If you are like me, you know the Bush administration is dishonest, manipulative, secretive and guilty of criminal malfeasance that spans the entire gamut of the executive branch of the government.
If you are like me, you know with all certainty that they will not hesitate to manipulate the votes come November and steal another term in office. They will be desperate. Their freedom from criminal prosecution depends on it.
Stop them.
By voting absentee, you can create a paper trail they cannot deny, alter or delete with a key stroke.
Vote absentee.
Volunteer to drive the elderly and/or disabled to vote absentee.
Tell your loved ones and neighbors to vote absentee, and tell them why, so they can tell others.
Do not trust these electronic voting machines, unless you plan to vote for Bush.
If that's the case, may God help restore you to sanity.
Even George Thinks George is an Idiot
When conservative political columnist George Will starts pointing out what an imbecile George W. Bush is, even these clam brained neo-con artists should start to take notice.
Check it out.
I hope someone is keeping score on how many conservative pundits are starting to call Bush on his relentless bullshit and bluster.
At this rate, by November the only ones still blind enough to be in the Bush camp will be Barcodie, Barbara Bush and Rupert Murdoch.
When conservative political columnist George Will starts pointing out what an imbecile George W. Bush is, even these clam brained neo-con artists should start to take notice.
Check it out.
I hope someone is keeping score on how many conservative pundits are starting to call Bush on his relentless bullshit and bluster.
At this rate, by November the only ones still blind enough to be in the Bush camp will be Barcodie, Barbara Bush and Rupert Murdoch.
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Damned Old Hippy Throwback Kitty
Eclair and I were at Whole Foods over the weekend and she bought me a beautifully healthy little potted patchouli plant. They are hard to find and this one was especially fragrant and perky, and since she got it for me, it made it even more special.
Tonight we went to World Market and I found a perfect pot for it, a terra cotta number shaped sort of like a conga drum and glazed with a thick layer of shiny, slate blue.
When I got home, I rushed to place the plant into the pot to see how it would look once I potted it.
Seems my elder cat Bart took a shine to the delicate patchouli scent and decided to eat or otherwise destroy most of the leaves. Basically, the plant looks like it got a haircut done with a semi-sharp rock.
Bart is 14-years-old. I thought we had reached a sort of detente by now.
He knows my hard rules and I know and accept his shortcomings, so discipline is no longer much of an issue, unlike with his spoiled brat baby brother, James.
Bart acting out like a hoodlum stray and destroying my precious new plant has me stymied.
He's too old to beat, and for all I know, patchouli leaves may be toxic and he could be dead by morning, causing me a lifetime of guilt for leaving the plant alone on my coffee table while I was out cavorting with Eclair.
It could be worse, I suppose.
It could have been a bag of primo weed he ate and scattered on the rug below instead of a bunch of patchouli leaves. Not that I smoke weed... I'm just sayin.'
So, I have decided to pot the raggedy ass plant in the beautiful glazed container I purchased for it and try to nurse the four remaining leaves and its bent, bruised stems back to health.
I'll have to put it outside now that Bart has displayed such a freakish taste for it.
Maybe old dogs can't learn new tricks, but kitties apparently can. I just wish Bart's new trick wasn't destroying plants with such sentimental meaning to them.
Fine.
He can forget his weekly dose of catnip for now, the little criminal. He's on restriction from getting high until my plant starts to bounce back.
Eclair and I were at Whole Foods over the weekend and she bought me a beautifully healthy little potted patchouli plant. They are hard to find and this one was especially fragrant and perky, and since she got it for me, it made it even more special.
Tonight we went to World Market and I found a perfect pot for it, a terra cotta number shaped sort of like a conga drum and glazed with a thick layer of shiny, slate blue.
When I got home, I rushed to place the plant into the pot to see how it would look once I potted it.
Seems my elder cat Bart took a shine to the delicate patchouli scent and decided to eat or otherwise destroy most of the leaves. Basically, the plant looks like it got a haircut done with a semi-sharp rock.
Bart is 14-years-old. I thought we had reached a sort of detente by now.
He knows my hard rules and I know and accept his shortcomings, so discipline is no longer much of an issue, unlike with his spoiled brat baby brother, James.
Bart acting out like a hoodlum stray and destroying my precious new plant has me stymied.
He's too old to beat, and for all I know, patchouli leaves may be toxic and he could be dead by morning, causing me a lifetime of guilt for leaving the plant alone on my coffee table while I was out cavorting with Eclair.
It could be worse, I suppose.
It could have been a bag of primo weed he ate and scattered on the rug below instead of a bunch of patchouli leaves. Not that I smoke weed... I'm just sayin.'
So, I have decided to pot the raggedy ass plant in the beautiful glazed container I purchased for it and try to nurse the four remaining leaves and its bent, bruised stems back to health.
I'll have to put it outside now that Bart has displayed such a freakish taste for it.
Maybe old dogs can't learn new tricks, but kitties apparently can. I just wish Bart's new trick wasn't destroying plants with such sentimental meaning to them.
Fine.
He can forget his weekly dose of catnip for now, the little criminal. He's on restriction from getting high until my plant starts to bounce back.
Daily Reads!
Finally, my new browser allowed me to update and clean up my list of daily reads.
If I know you and haven't linked you yet, it's because I still have some linking to do.
If you are wKen or similarly idle Blog-wise, I know you'll forgive my deleting you until you come up for air and let me know your Bloglights are back on.
I try to keep my list reasonably short so others are more likely to sample the Blogs I like.
Recently I have added Blogs that reflect my political views and I highly recommend you try them:
One is AmericaBlog written by John Aravosis, the superbly effective gay activist who made his bones with his first major website, Stop Dr.Laura.com.
Another is AriannaHuffington who started as a Repugnican pundit, then had the wisdom to cross over to the liberal side, where she suddenly morphed into someone very witty and bright. She is also a brilliant author and TV commentator.
I especially like that AmericaBlog and Arianna are situated squarely on top of my political nemesis Barcodie. Deal with it, Commissar.
Finally, my new browser allowed me to update and clean up my list of daily reads.
If I know you and haven't linked you yet, it's because I still have some linking to do.
If you are wKen or similarly idle Blog-wise, I know you'll forgive my deleting you until you come up for air and let me know your Bloglights are back on.
I try to keep my list reasonably short so others are more likely to sample the Blogs I like.
Recently I have added Blogs that reflect my political views and I highly recommend you try them:
One is AmericaBlog written by John Aravosis, the superbly effective gay activist who made his bones with his first major website, Stop Dr.Laura.com.
Another is AriannaHuffington who started as a Repugnican pundit, then had the wisdom to cross over to the liberal side, where she suddenly morphed into someone very witty and bright. She is also a brilliant author and TV commentator.
I especially like that AmericaBlog and Arianna are situated squarely on top of my political nemesis Barcodie. Deal with it, Commissar.
Monday, May 03, 2004
On the Launchpad
Finally, I have upgraded to Mac OSX and AOL 9.0.
Now I can actually post my own Blogs, use my browser like all the regular folks online. Thanks to Grey Bird and Melly for helping me for so long.
I can now see the ad banners on the top of my Blog. Ehh.
I just found out e-mail can contain different fonts and colors.
Now that I have this new stuff, I'll have to learn all the new glitches.
But it'll take a while, because Tuesday I am in charge of entertaining my elderly mother from morning till evening.
I can't help but think all this new stuff will help me stick it to Bush even more.
Oh, and speaking of Bush, one year ago he told us we had prevailed in Iraq. Mission accomplished.
Let's all celebrate with a magnum of Condoleezza's finest premium unleaded.
We can all spare the twenty bucks, can't we?
Finally, I have upgraded to Mac OSX and AOL 9.0.
Now I can actually post my own Blogs, use my browser like all the regular folks online. Thanks to Grey Bird and Melly for helping me for so long.
I can now see the ad banners on the top of my Blog. Ehh.
I just found out e-mail can contain different fonts and colors.
Now that I have this new stuff, I'll have to learn all the new glitches.
But it'll take a while, because Tuesday I am in charge of entertaining my elderly mother from morning till evening.
I can't help but think all this new stuff will help me stick it to Bush even more.
Oh, and speaking of Bush, one year ago he told us we had prevailed in Iraq. Mission accomplished.
Let's all celebrate with a magnum of Condoleezza's finest premium unleaded.
We can all spare the twenty bucks, can't we?
Saturday, May 01, 2004
Oh, God.
Between people blasting Ted Koppel and ABC's "Nightline" for honoring the memories of our military who lost their lives in Iraq by announcing their names, and the scenes of Iraqi prisoners being tortured by our forces in sadomasochistic, sexually humiliating ways, I am thoroughly disgusted.
Bush has created a nightmare with increasingly far-reaching consequences.
More Middle Easterners than ever hate our guts because they think we Americans support this madman.
Bush hides behind the fake cloak of his Christianity while he perpetrates horrible acts, yet he condemns Islamic fundamentalists as being extremists and lunatics.
He's an extremist lunatic whose actions look far more satanic than they do Christian.
While we still have a first amendment that guarantees us freedom of speech, we all need to get vocal, get involved and get rid of this malignant cancer growing out of the White House.
Four more years of this insanity will destroy our nation.
How to get started in STOPPING BUSH!
Please hit this link and find something--anything--you can do to help.
Then, please, tell us the ways you discovered you can help.
Between people blasting Ted Koppel and ABC's "Nightline" for honoring the memories of our military who lost their lives in Iraq by announcing their names, and the scenes of Iraqi prisoners being tortured by our forces in sadomasochistic, sexually humiliating ways, I am thoroughly disgusted.
Bush has created a nightmare with increasingly far-reaching consequences.
More Middle Easterners than ever hate our guts because they think we Americans support this madman.
Bush hides behind the fake cloak of his Christianity while he perpetrates horrible acts, yet he condemns Islamic fundamentalists as being extremists and lunatics.
He's an extremist lunatic whose actions look far more satanic than they do Christian.
While we still have a first amendment that guarantees us freedom of speech, we all need to get vocal, get involved and get rid of this malignant cancer growing out of the White House.
Four more years of this insanity will destroy our nation.
How to get started in STOPPING BUSH!
Please hit this link and find something--anything--you can do to help.
Then, please, tell us the ways you discovered you can help.
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