Kucinich Separates From Others On Iraq, Iran and Impeachment

In tonight's debate my hats off to Kucinich who took a firm stand against the Bush administration for it's illegal actions in waging a war against Iraq and its planning for yet another against Iran.
Kucinich aptly noted how our countries democracy is (further) in peril by the lack of congress in standing up to this administration and holding it accountable for its illegal actions that constitute international crimes against humanity.

Kucinich: " Tim, we’re here in Philadelphia, the birthplace of democracy. I want to know when this Democratic Congress is going to stand up for the Constitution and hold the president accountable with Article 2, Section 4 an impeachment act. I think that our democracy is in peril and unless the Democrats and the Congress stand up for the Constitution, we are going to lose our country.”

I concur.

Where Will Rummy Vacation?

So, there may be good reason to suspect that vacation spots may be hard for Donald Rumsfeld to come by where he can have confidence that he wont be picked up by French authorities. According to an article posted on Firedoglake, Rummy had to pull a Houdini and exit out a back door straight to the U.S. embassy in order to evade being arrested by French prosecutors acting on a complaint brought by the "Center for Constitutional Rights, the International Federation for Human Rights and several other NGOs."
He was quickly whisked out of the country.

This was the fifth time Rumsfeld had been charged with direct involvement in torture since 9/11. The complaint states that "Rumsfeld authorized interrogation techniques that led to abuses at US-run prisons in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay."

It is up to states like France, and any others who would dare, to prosecute human rights violations such as the one Rumsfeld and others are allegedly responsible for committing in Iraq. Despite a trail of documentation and memos that implicate Rumsfeld and other high ranking officials in torture, sometimes resulting in death, there has been no substantial investigation by U.S. or Iraqi authorities. Therefore, in accordance with the 1984 Convention Against Torture, which was ratified by both the U.S. and France, it is up to other states to carry out justice in order to determine which parties are to be held accountable for their crimes.

Let us implore the other nations of the world that they may carry out with integrity that which our own government has proven incapable of doing. However, it is more accurate to say that the U.S. government is really unwilling to carry out this justice, since to say incapable implies a lack of competence. But this is really more a case of collusion on the part of those who make up a system of checks and balances that is all but none existent within our current government.

Blackwater: Impunity and Immunity for all - Yea!!!

In the aftermath of 17 Iraqi citizens dead at the gun barrels of Blackwater's guards the State Department grants them immunity from prosecution, according to The Associated Press.

So, an investigation that aims to uncover the persons responsible for the killings takes a path that simultaneous exonerates those same persons for their crimes. And the Iraqi's are suppose to trust that what the U.S. administration has at heart is the interests of the Iraqi people. Sure.
Can you imagine what would happen if such an event was to occur on U.S. soil and the Iraqi government was to promise immunity to its private corporation's security guards. All hell would break lose, heads would fall and there would be no end to the bravado.

Does this not further set precedence for private contractors to act with reckless abandon as they are given every reason to believe that it is their interests, and in the interest of their corporations amassing greater profits, that the U.S. administration is concerned?

Detainees being abused and tortured, civilians being routinely killed and communities terrorized by private contractors. Somehow I can't but feel that the majority of the population of this country fails to comprehend the significance and horror of this fact.

Compliments for this link of Firedog Lake at http://www.firedoglake.com/
http://www.shadowcompanythemovie.com/

See Shadow Company to learn more about the facts about the outsourcing the War on Iraq.

Remembering Dan Rather Running For Cover

Greg Palast wasn't alone in reporting back in 1999 how G.W.Bush avoided the draft when papa Bush, then in congress, had a phone call made that resulted in Ben Barnes getting George Jr. into the Texas Air Guard. For this to happen G.W. was placed before many who were on a waiting list well before himself. Many who consequently served on the ground and lost their lives while G.W. "protected" U.S. citizens from a Vietcong attack on our coasts. Let's forget about how G.W. went AWOL.

Now, despite the document that Greg has which found its way to him from the U.S. Department of Justice, some continue to deny the veracity of his story because of claims by CBS that there was information that shed doubt on the facts of the story. A story which was also told by Dan Rather in 2004 which he apologized for and then was supposed to be rewarded with a new contract, according to Palast's report. Greg offered $100,000 for this information to which he never received a response. Hmmm, why wouldn't CBS not want to provide this information and defend their claim and justify their punishment of Dan Rather for reporting this old story (for those who plug into non-corporate, uncensored media.)

But Greg gives us the bigger story that is as yet still untold about how G.W., while "serving" as Gov. of Texas gave a billion dollar contract to a company tied to Barnes, for which Barnes received 23 million dollars.

"Here was evidence of gross abuse of public office by Governor Bush to pay off a crony who kept silent while Bush ran for the presidency."

Now, where is the rest of the media on this one. Why aren't the tough questions being asked of our politicians for them to answer such suspicious activities?

Read the rest of Greg's story for more. http://www.gregpalast.com/

A Different Color Makes A Difference

Greg Palast says it all when he asks, "What color is your disaster? It makes a difference. A life and death difference."
He compares and contrasts these features of the disasters that hit New Orleans and Southern California:
Population of San Diego fire evacuation zone: 500,000
Population of the New Orleans flood evacuation zone: 500,000
White folk as a % of evacuees, San Diego: 66%
Black folk as % of evacuees, New Orleans: 67%
Evacuees in San Diego, in poverty: 9%
Evacuees in New Orleans, in poverty: 27%

Greg is kind enough to provide perspective on the response of power to these catastrophes as he reminds us of how George W. made his appearance in N.O. from 1,700 feet up, but was firmly on the ground in Southern Cal. with big man Arnold as he expressed his confidence in the big man to lead an effective response, unlike the Gov. of N.O. who he sought to scapegoat for the incompetent response to their disaster.
But what many don't know, thanks to the complicity of the media, is that G.W. and FEMA were well informed about the impending levee break at least 15 hours prior (recorded on video where Bush asks scant questions and demonstrates luke warm concern, which I personally saw.) Neither informed the Governor or the state police until well after the breaks were complete. In addition, Greg's research revealed that the Department of Homeland Security's FEMA privatized the evacuation planning, turning it over to a private company with limited experience in these matters for 1 million dollars. As Greg learned, "the crew of crony contractors...came up with a plan that came down to, If a hurricane comes, get in your car and drive like hell.”
"In California, plans were in place, money poured down with the flame retardant, and no one is suggesting that Mel Gibson move his swastika collection to a FEMA trailer."
It goes without saying that what is being addressed here is none other than a class war.
Class war as seen in disaster response is not new. As Greg points out the same prejudice was seen when Billy was administrator of the nation as he foot the bill for rebuilding the homes of Westhampton Dunes after the flood there.
Greg concludes:
"So let me not forget to report the war’s body count:
New Orleans flood deaths: 1,577.
California celebrity fire deaths: 11 (at time of posting)"

For the full story see: http://www.gregpalast.com/

Republican "Dirty Tricks" to steal the vote again

The "Electoral College Reform Initiative is back as a cabal of right-wing out-of-state Republican donors and consultants organize to steal 20 electoral college votes and the white house in 2008. This is a corrupt California initiative designed to undermine democracy and public mandate and unfairly deliver 20 electoral votes from California to the GOP presidential nominee and power to the republican party.
To see how you can help go to:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/