Global
When I hear pundits warn that Iraq is becoming a “quagmire,” I
wince.
“Quagmire” is a word made famous during the Vietnam War. The current conflict in Iraq comes out of a very different history, but there are some chilling parallels. One of them has scarcely been mentioned: These days, the editorial positions of major U.S. newspapers have an echo like a dirge.
Of course, the nation’s mainstream press does not speak with a monolithic editorial voice. At one end of the limited spectrum, the strident and influential Wall Street Journal cannot abide any doubts. Its editorials explain, tirelessly, that the war was Good and the occupation is Good -- and those who doubt are fools and knaves. (LBJ called such dissenters “Nervous Nellies.”)
“Quagmire” is a word made famous during the Vietnam War. The current conflict in Iraq comes out of a very different history, but there are some chilling parallels. One of them has scarcely been mentioned: These days, the editorial positions of major U.S. newspapers have an echo like a dirge.
Of course, the nation’s mainstream press does not speak with a monolithic editorial voice. At one end of the limited spectrum, the strident and influential Wall Street Journal cannot abide any doubts. Its editorials explain, tirelessly, that the war was Good and the occupation is Good -- and those who doubt are fools and knaves. (LBJ called such dissenters “Nervous Nellies.”)
A coalition of power companies has launched a multi-million dollar campaign to convince members of Congress to support the
Bush administration's misnamed "Clear Skies" air pollution bill. Through the Edison Electric Institute, hundreds of
companies are pushing their employees, retirees and shareholders to send faxes to Congress, meet with members of Congress,
and write to local newspapers. Even worse, these faxes falsely claim that the dirty air bill is good for the environment
and public health!
The truth is that the Bush administration's "Clear Skies" air pollution plan will weaken public health protections, leading to more smog, soot and mercury pollution from old electric power plants than under current law.
Please take a moment to e-mail your members of Congress today and tell them that we need real solutions to the over 30,000 premature deaths and 160,000 asthma attacks that power plant pollution causes. Then, ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.
The truth is that the Bush administration's "Clear Skies" air pollution plan will weaken public health protections, leading to more smog, soot and mercury pollution from old electric power plants than under current law.
Please take a moment to e-mail your members of Congress today and tell them that we need real solutions to the over 30,000 premature deaths and 160,000 asthma attacks that power plant pollution causes. Then, ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.
During the Cold War, the CIA, in the words of long-time
agent Ralph McGehee, practiced the art of "deadly
deceits." Throughout the Third World, the secret spy agency engaged in covert operations, blatant acts of economic destabilization and wanton acts of mass violence.
In the 1970s, Idaho Senator Frank Church's investigatory committee established that the CIA also engaged in so-called "benign" operations including rigging elections. The agency used the term "demonstration elections" - elections that are superficially democratic but the results manipulated by the CIA.
In the 1970s, Idaho Senator Frank Church's investigatory committee established that the CIA also engaged in so-called "benign" operations including rigging elections. The agency used the term "demonstration elections" - elections that are superficially democratic but the results manipulated by the CIA.
Remember "Groundhog Day," with Bill Murray? He played a TV
weatherman, doomed to live the same day, Groundhog Day, over and over again.
As this odd summer slowly winds down, I feel a bit like Murray. I've been
here before.
Take the tunnel in Iraq, already filled with military and intelligence analysts by the hundreds reporting that there's light somewhere up ahead. Here, for example, is Anthony Cordesman, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, and on his better days, nobody's fool.
On Washington's carousel, Cordesman is a prominent fixture. The Center is the prime Republican think tank on K Street, where an elevator ride can confront you with museum pieces stretching all the way back to Reagan's first National Security Council adviser, Richard Allen. Cordesman has held down big jobs in the Defense and Energy departments, has served as Senator John McCain's national security assistant and strides confidently before the cameras whenever ABC News summons him for analysis and commentary.
Take the tunnel in Iraq, already filled with military and intelligence analysts by the hundreds reporting that there's light somewhere up ahead. Here, for example, is Anthony Cordesman, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, and on his better days, nobody's fool.
On Washington's carousel, Cordesman is a prominent fixture. The Center is the prime Republican think tank on K Street, where an elevator ride can confront you with museum pieces stretching all the way back to Reagan's first National Security Council adviser, Richard Allen. Cordesman has held down big jobs in the Defense and Energy departments, has served as Senator John McCain's national security assistant and strides confidently before the cameras whenever ABC News summons him for analysis and commentary.
AUSTIN, Texas -- It is insufficient to stand around saying, "I
told you Iraq would be a disaster." Believe me, saying, "I told you so" is a
satisfaction so sour it will gag you when people, including Americans, are
dying every day.
I think our greatest strength is still pragmatism. OK, this isn't working, now what? In an effort to be constructive, even in the face of a developing catastrophe, I have been combing the public prints in an effort to find something positive to suggest.
I think our greatest strength is still pragmatism. OK, this isn't working, now what? In an effort to be constructive, even in the face of a developing catastrophe, I have been combing the public prints in an effort to find something positive to suggest.
Dark eyes and vague pronouncements,
a catalogue of mistrust
in his eyes like the cloudy sense
that time moves but life stalls,
that his whole moment
in the long history of existence is
no longer than the lifespan
of some unnamed insect,
he could never remember which, hated
biology and the sciences, though
they kept returning, coming back
into his life, mind, invading
his conscience with pitchforks and shovels and clubs,
angry villagers making their revolt
against the dictatorship
of his expectations, rousing his
mistrust and alienation, rebels roused
from their apathy with a jolt,
and his stare so empty of
any sense that he has anything
worthwhile to keep living for,
but having no stomach for action,
a desire, yes, a readiness to
end it all, but no ability
to really snuff it out, no mind
for guns or blades or pills or gas,
but still waiting, hating,
waiting for something, anything,
to bring the curtain down.
a catalogue of mistrust
in his eyes like the cloudy sense
that time moves but life stalls,
that his whole moment
in the long history of existence is
no longer than the lifespan
of some unnamed insect,
he could never remember which, hated
biology and the sciences, though
they kept returning, coming back
into his life, mind, invading
his conscience with pitchforks and shovels and clubs,
angry villagers making their revolt
against the dictatorship
of his expectations, rousing his
mistrust and alienation, rebels roused
from their apathy with a jolt,
and his stare so empty of
any sense that he has anything
worthwhile to keep living for,
but having no stomach for action,
a desire, yes, a readiness to
end it all, but no ability
to really snuff it out, no mind
for guns or blades or pills or gas,
but still waiting, hating,
waiting for something, anything,
to bring the curtain down.
Dear Mr. Wasserman,
I'm in Baghdad, Iraq and I've just spent 2 days at seminars on democracy that I arranged with a couple of friends. As I'm immersed in this subject right now and as I was terribly moved watching the rapt attention my Iraqi friends gave to the democracy consultant that came here to help, I can't help responding to your article on George Bush with a resounding: Why on earth are we talking about a person like George Bush? How could anyone like Mr. Bush get elected in an intelligent so-called advanced country? Once elected by an undemocratic 20% of the population of the US, how could he stay in office after breaching international law, thumbing his and the American people's noses at the international community and UN, attacking a country that he's already carefully rendered helpless with the worst arsenal of military might known to the planet, lied to his own people repeatedly etc.? Why is this planet taking a buffoon like George Bush seriously and why hasn't he been turfed out of the White House for wrecking just about every glimmer of civilized structure the US has built up over centuries?
If you run a lootocracy, you have no conception of sufficiency. You set up
the rules to grab as much money as you can, as if you've won a supermarket
shopping spree. You also concentrate power, the better to arrange the world
for your benefit. Unchecked by modesty, satiety, or shame, you take all you
can get away with. You loot until someone stops you.
The word lootocracy was originally coined to describe the corrupt cartels that have ruled and plundered countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and some of the former Soviet Republics. But with an amazingly small amount of national debate, George Bush is installing a more global and sophisticated version-one where those on top can do whatever they choose without the slightest constraints. Bush began his presidency by giving the wealthiest five percent of all Americans massive tax breaks of $75 billion a year. He paid for them in part by cutting child abuse prevention, community policing, Americorps, low-income childcare, health care, housing, and even support for military families. This spring he passed another round of cuts, $35 billion a year targeted overwhelmingly to the same lucky lootocrats.
The word lootocracy was originally coined to describe the corrupt cartels that have ruled and plundered countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and some of the former Soviet Republics. But with an amazingly small amount of national debate, George Bush is installing a more global and sophisticated version-one where those on top can do whatever they choose without the slightest constraints. Bush began his presidency by giving the wealthiest five percent of all Americans massive tax breaks of $75 billion a year. He paid for them in part by cutting child abuse prevention, community policing, Americorps, low-income childcare, health care, housing, and even support for military families. This spring he passed another round of cuts, $35 billion a year targeted overwhelmingly to the same lucky lootocrats.
In answer to PETA’s lawsuit filed in July against KFC and its parent company, Yum! Brands, accusing the corporations of lying to the public about their animal-welfare policies, KFC and Yum! Brands have made sweeping changes to their Web sites and their customer service scripts.
Lawyers for KFC provided the text of the new customer service script to PETA to review in order to determine whether they were sufficient to stop the lawsuit. The changes amount to what PETA had asked the court to require of KFC, and as a result, PETA will now end its lawsuit.
PETA’s victory in this lawsuit—which PETA believes to be unprecedented in that it is a successful suit for false representations about the treatment of farmed animals—puts corporations on notice that they cannot abuse animals and lie about it with impunity. The false claims that have now been removed from the KFC and Yum! Brands Web sites include the following:
• that chickens raised for KFC suffer no pain
• that chickens raised for KFC suffer no injuries
• that KFC suppliers use “state-of-the-art” slaughter equipment
• that humane treatment of the birds is “ensured”
Lawyers for KFC provided the text of the new customer service script to PETA to review in order to determine whether they were sufficient to stop the lawsuit. The changes amount to what PETA had asked the court to require of KFC, and as a result, PETA will now end its lawsuit.
PETA’s victory in this lawsuit—which PETA believes to be unprecedented in that it is a successful suit for false representations about the treatment of farmed animals—puts corporations on notice that they cannot abuse animals and lie about it with impunity. The false claims that have now been removed from the KFC and Yum! Brands Web sites include the following:
• that chickens raised for KFC suffer no pain
• that chickens raised for KFC suffer no injuries
• that KFC suppliers use “state-of-the-art” slaughter equipment
• that humane treatment of the birds is “ensured”
George W. Bush has officially told the people of New York City that as far as
he's concerned, they can drop dead. And thanks to his lies, many of them
will.
With his latest attack on the Clean Air Act he's said the same to millions more.
Bush has used the 9/11 "trifecta" to build his popularity, fund the military and tear up the Bill of Rights. But the GOP's cynical uses of the tragedy have gone to a new level.
The White House directly interfered with planned Environmental Protection Agency warnings about the toxic fallout from the World Trade Center explosions. It had "competing considerations" that came before protecting the health of the people of New York. Among them were re-opening the stock exchange as quickly as possible, and limiting clean-up costs and liability claims.
Because of Bush's lies, thousands of Americans will suffer cancers, emphysema, heart attack, stroke, birth defects, stillbirths, sterility, eye/ear/nose/throat disease and much more.
With his latest attack on the Clean Air Act he's said the same to millions more.
Bush has used the 9/11 "trifecta" to build his popularity, fund the military and tear up the Bill of Rights. But the GOP's cynical uses of the tragedy have gone to a new level.
The White House directly interfered with planned Environmental Protection Agency warnings about the toxic fallout from the World Trade Center explosions. It had "competing considerations" that came before protecting the health of the people of New York. Among them were re-opening the stock exchange as quickly as possible, and limiting clean-up costs and liability claims.
Because of Bush's lies, thousands of Americans will suffer cancers, emphysema, heart attack, stroke, birth defects, stillbirths, sterility, eye/ear/nose/throat disease and much more.