Life in OUR America, Volume 5, the Livyjr Files Options

[Livyjr]

And while we are on the subject of George W. Bush ...

And stupidity ...

And cowards ....

And ineptness ....

AND A COMPLETE AND TOTAL LACK OF INTEGRITY ....

AS WELL AS A FAILURE TO GET IT DONE ....

BECAUSE GEORGE JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT ....

THAT'S WHAT SERVANTS ARE FOR, AFTER ALL ....

And so ....

"Karzai: War not getting at terrorism cause"

By TINI TRAN, Associated Press Writer

1 hour, 17 minutes ago

KABUL, Afghanistan - One of America's closest allies says the war on terrorism fails to address its root causes.

Experts agreed with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, saying Friday the major military offensive against the Taliban will not fix Afghanistan's larger crises — a lack of reconstruction and jobs, a booming drug trade, and a weak government.

"You won't win unless you can convince people that progress is being made," said Marvin Weinbaum, a former State Department analyst now a scholar at the Washington-based Middle East Institute.

"One of the things we recognize is that we have failed to improve on the development side, especially in the south."

"In the areas with the greatest need, we have not gotten the reconstruction that was necessary."

On Thursday, a clearly frustrated Karzai criticized the coalition's anti-terror campaign, deploring the deaths of hundreds of Afghans and appealing for more help for his government.

The coalition has killed hundreds, mostly Taliban militants, since May.

Karzai spokesman Khaleeq Ahmad said Friday the president wanted the international community to reevaluate its approach.

"We want to fight (terrorism) in a way that we fight the roots of it: where they get trained, where they get equipment, where they get money, where the recruitment centers are," he said.

Outside Kabul, there is little visible evidence of improvements in infrastructure or services since the Taliban regime was ousted in late 2001.

That has allowed forces loyal to the hard-line Islamic regime to regain strength and sympathy in their former strongholds in the poorer southern provinces of Uruzgan, Helmand, Zabul and Kandahar.

The Taliban also is being fueled by the return of a flourishing drug trade.

Afghanistan produces 90 percent of the world's heroin supply with its poppy crop, and the profits of drug trafficking are helping fund the militants.

The government, backed by hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. and British money, has launched a campaign to eradicate poppies in many areas — a move that is believed to have prompted armed resistance from traffickers.

A government administration perceived as weak also plays into the hands of militants intent on disrupting Afghanistan's fragile gains.

Though Karzai has national appeal, he is being undermined by a divisive and ineffective Cabinet, lawmaker Shukria Barakzai said.

"I agree the corruption, lack of security, and lack of employment are challenges Afghanistan is facing," she said.

"Karzai, as one person, cannot solve this problem on his own."

"But he has failed to make a team work."

"It looks like ministers are working for themselves."

Taliban forces have been blamed for a surge of violence in recent months, using methods commonly used by militants in Iraq: suicide bombings, ambushes and beheadings.

In an effort to curb the bloodletting, some 10,000 troops from the U.S.-led coalition have been deployed in a major offensive across the nation's south.

The spasm of violent attacks and intense fighting has left more than 600 people, mostly militants, dead since May.

NATO is increasing its force in Afghanistan from 9,700 to 16,000, with an expansion into the south due to be completed by late July.

The alliance hopes to take on eastern Afghanistan by November, completing its expansion across the country and increasing its total numbers to 21,000.

Mustafa Alani, director of security and terrorism studies at the Dubai-based Gulf Research Center, said Afghanistan's current situation was precarious.

"I would not be surprised if Afghanistan progresses to the level of Iraq's violence."

"There is an anti-American sentiment in Afghanistan now."

"That's where you see recruitment by militants," he said.

That sentiment was unleashed last month after a U.S. military truck crashed into a crowd in Kabul, killing up to five people.

The carnage sparked huge anti-American riots, fueled by increasing resentment of the 23,000 foreign soldiers in the country.

Rioters chanted "Death to America!" as they stoned the U.S. convoy, ransacked offices of international aid groups and searched for foreigners in a tide of anger.

At least eight people died and 107 were injured before Kabul's streets calmed.

Anthony Cordesman, an analyst with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Afghanistan's problems require long-term solutions.

"You have an Afghan army which is still too weak."

"You have an Afghan government which hasn't shown the initial promise of being able to expand outside of Kabul, and the Taliban are back," he said.

[Livyjr]

"Karzai: War not getting at terrorism cause"

By TINI TRAN, Associated Press Writer

KABUL, Afghanistan - One of America's closest allies says the war on terrorism fails to address its root causes.

On Thursday, a clearly frustrated Karzai criticized the coalition's anti-terror campaign, deploring the deaths of hundreds of Afghans and appealing for more help for his government.

Mustafa Alani, director of security and terrorism studies at the Dubai-based Gulf Research Center, said Afghanistan's current situation was precarious.

"I would not be surprised if Afghanistan progresses to the level of Iraq's violence."

"There is an anti-American sentiment in Afghanistan now."

"That's where you see recruitment by militants," he said.

And speaking of IRAQINAM ....

"Iraq reconciliation may include amnesty"

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press Writer

2 hours, 47 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Iraqi government will present a national reconciliation plan to parliament Sunday that would grant some insurgents amnesty and ask for approval of a series of steps for Iraqis to take over security from U.S. troops, according to a key politician and a draft of the document.

A draft of the 28-point proposal by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki contains an updated version of a sequence of moves — with no specific dates — preparing Iraqi forces to assume control of national security.

The U.S.-led coalition wants to hand over security in certain regions while withdrawing to larger regional bases in case of emergency.

A final stage would involve the drawdown of U.S. troops from those bases.

"There is no finite and U.N.-approved timeline for the withdrawal of foreign troops," said Kurdish politician Mahmoud Othman, a close ally of President Jalal Talabani, who was to present the plan.

The plan proposes a general pardon for thousands of prisoners who are determined not to have committed "crimes and clear terrorist actions."

The government already has been pardoning groups of such prisoners and releasing them by the hundreds in recent months.

The plan promises to open a review of the country's new constitution to address demands made by Sunni Arabs, while attempting to find a way to eradicate sectarian militias.

It also pledges to shield the crucial Defense and Interior ministries from outside political influence.

The early draft obtained by The Associated Press called for a joint stand by Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds on a series of critical issues, before drawing up more detailed proposals.

It was not clear what progress had been made on that front, including a call for a "candid and clear stand" by all sides on policy toward supporters of former President Saddam Hussein and his outlawed Baath party.

The plan did not include a call for halting "anti-terrorist" operations by coalition forces, Othman said, contradicting some published reports.

Othman said committees would be formed to discuss the amnesty plans and the problem of dealing with members of the once-ruling Baath Party.

He stressed that those proposals remained on the drawing board.

"It is so hard to implement this package in a proper way," he said.

"It's so hard to bring all parties together on this package."

White House spokesman Tony Snow said June 18 that "the prime minister's made it clear that he's not going to grant amnesty to anybody with blood on their hands, and I'll let him define that."

The plan was to be presented last week, but al-Maliki delayed the announcement because of disagreements among Iraq's ethnic and sectarian groups.
___

Associated Press writer Sinan Salaheddin in Baghdad contributed to this report.

[Livyjr]

HADJI GIRL

I WAS OUT IN THE SANDS OF IRAQ
AND WE WERE UNDER ATTACK
AND I, WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO.
AND THE FIRST THINK I COULD SEE WAS
EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE BURGER KING
SO I THREW OPEN THE DOOR AND I HIT THE FLOOR.
THEN SUDDENLY TO MY SURPRISE
I LOOKED UP AND I SAW HER EYES
AND I KNEW IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
AND SHE SAID
DURKA DURKA MOHAMMED JIHAD
SHERPA SHERPA BAK ALLAH
HADJI GIRL I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU?RE SAYING.
AND SHE SAID
DURKA DURKA MOHAMMED JIHAD
SHERPA SHERPA BAK ALLAH
HADJI GIRL I LOVE YOU ANYWAY.

THEN SHE SAID THAT SHE WANTED ME TO SEE.
SHE WANTED ME TO MEET HER FAMILY
BUT I, WELL, I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO SAY NO.
CAUSE I DON?T SPEAK ARABIC.
SO, SHE TOOK ME DOWN AN OLD DIRT TRAIL.
AND SHE PULLED UP TO A SIDE SHANTY
AND SHE THREW OPEN THE DOOR AND I HIT THE FLOOR.
CAUSE HER BROTHER AND HER FATHER SHOUTED
DURKA DURKA MOHAMMED JIHAD
SHERPA SHERPA BAK ALLAH
THEY PULLED OUT THEIR AKS SO I COULD SEE
AND THEY SAID
DURKA DURKA MOHAMMED JIHAD
SHERPA SHERPA BAK ALLAH
SO I GRABBED HER LITTLE SISTER AND PULLED HER IN FRONT OF ME.
AS THE BULLETS BEGAN TO FLY
THE BLOOD SPRAYED FROM BETWEEN HER EYES
AND THEN I LAUGHED MANIACALLY
THEN I HID BEHIND THE TV
AND I LOCKED AND LOADED MY M-16
AND I BLEW THOSE LITTLE F***ERS TO ETERNITY.
AND I SAID

DURKA DURKA MOHAMMED JIHAD
SHERPA SHERPA BAK ALLAH
THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THEY WERE F***ING WITH A MARINE

--The lyrics to the "Hadji Girl" ......

sung by a Marine

Cpl. Joshua Belile ....

Who was videotaped during the performance; cited in Thomas Riggins, "The 'Hadji Girl' Debate and the Fog of War" (Political Affairs Magazine/Selves and others, June 21)
http://www.selvesandothers.org/article14713.html

"Karzai: War not getting at terrorism cause"

By TINI TRAN, Associated Press Writer

KABUL, Afghanistan - One of America's closest allies says the war on terrorism fails to address its root causes.

Experts agreed with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, saying Friday the major military offensive against the Taliban will not fix Afghanistan's larger crises — a lack of reconstruction and jobs, a booming drug trade, and a weak government.

"You won't win unless you can convince people that progress is being made," said Marvin Weinbaum, a former State Department analyst now a scholar at the Washington-based Middle East Institute.

Mustafa Alani, director of security and terrorism studies at the Dubai-based Gulf Research Center, said Afghanistan's current situation was precarious.

"I would not be surprised if Afghanistan progresses to the level of Iraq's violence."

"There is an anti-American sentiment in Afghanistan now."

"That's where you see recruitment by militants," he said.

After thinking about it all night ....

This CRAP above here ....

From what is alleged to be ....

A United States MARINE ....

I want to say .....

That I am very sorry ....

That I was educated ...

As an engineer .....

Instead of as an ENGLISH major .....

Because if I had been educated ....

As an ENGLISH major ....

Instead of an as engineer ....

I would likely be more erudite .....

And polished .....

LIKE A REPUBLICAN LAWYER ...

OR WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN .....

AND SO ....

I would be better able ....

TO EXPRESS MY ABSOLUTE DISGUST ....

With the sentiments .....

Expressed by this FAUX MARINE above here .....

Than I am ....

As an engineer .....

And so ....

My thought right now ...

IS THAT WITH GEORGE W. BUSH ...

FIELDING SORRY EXCUSES ...

LIKE THIS ABOVE SPECIMEN IS ....

AS WHAT ARE SUPPOSED TO PASS FOR UNITED STATES MARINES TODAY ....

NO WONDER ...

THERE IS ANTI-AMERICAN SENTIMENT ....

ALL OVER THE WORLD TODAY ...

And so ...

The only thing I would really like to say in response to that ANTI-AMERICAN SENTIMENT ...

IS THAT WITH FOOLS LIKE THIS ONE ABOVE HERE ...

BEING PUT FORTH ...

OUT THERE ...

IN THE WORLD ...

BY GEORGE W. BUSH ....

As "MARINES" ......

THAT ANTI-AMERICAN SENTIMENT ...

IS WELL-FOUNDED .....

And so ....

As for me ...

I DO NOT SUPPORT THE "TROOPS" ....

I AM FOR THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION ....

AND ANY OF GEORGE W. BUSH'S "TROOPS" ....

WHO SUPPORT HIM ....

AND WHO HAVE SWORN FEALTY TO HIM ....

ARE ENEMIES .....

OF THAT CONSTITUTION ....

AND HENCE .....

ARE ENEMIES ...

OF OUR AMERICA ....

And so .....

THAT IS WHERE I STAND ....

AS A LOYAL AMERICAN CITIZEN THIS MORNING .....

And so ....

Right now ...

I am out of here ...

Because I don't have any more to say, than that .....

AND BECAUSE I AM DAMN SICK AND TIRED ...

OF THIS PERVERTED VERSION OF "AMERICA" .....

THAT GEORGE W. BUSH ...

AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ...

AND GEORGE'S FAUX "MARINES" HAVE DEALT US UP ....

And so ....

[Livyjr]

--The lyrics to the "Hadji Girl" ....

Sung by a Marine .....

Cpl. Joshua Belile .....

Who was videotaped during the performance;

Cited in Thomas Riggins,

"The 'Hadji Girl' Debate and the Fog of War"

(Political Affairs Magazine/Selves and others, June 21)

http://www.selvesandothers.org/article14713.html

You know, Snuf ....

People down there where you are .....

Down there in Washington, D.C. .....

Well ...

They sure do have a different outlook on life than I do ...

And that is for sure ...

Maybe it is just a case of sophistication .....

Them folks having all of it that there can be .....

The sophistication, that is ....

And me having none ....

Because they are living in the CAPITAL .....

OF THE ONLY SUPERPOWER ...

THAT THERE IS IN THE WORLD ....

WHICH MAKES THEM ....

VERY POWERFUL PEOPLE, OF COURSE ....

SUPER-POWERFUL, IN FACT!

And I'm not ....

Not living in Washington. D.C. ....

And not having any power ....

And so ....

SNUF, I AM MISSING SOMETHING HERE, OBVIOUSLY ....

AND IT IS THIS?

WHERE IS THE DEBATE, HERE?

That is what I am missing ....

And who exactly is having this so-called "HADJI GIRL DEBATE"?

Some think-tank down there?

Some liberal talk show host?

I mean ....

I just don't understand here ....

WHAT IS THERE HERE TO DEBATE?

Are we debating this guy's right to have sung this song?

OR WHAT?

See, Snuf ....

Out here in the country ....

Well, let's face it, you and I ...

WE'RE JUST OUT OF THE LOOP, UP HERE .....

And so ....

We don't get filled in on a lot of the finer points of these intellectual debates down there in Washington, D.C. ...

Which is the CAPITAL ...

Of the WORLD'S ONLY SUPERPOWER ....

Where we are barely above the level of savages, ourselves, up here ....

And so ....

And maybe ....

In the end ...

I myself ...

Just don't have ...

The SAVOIR FAIRE ...

To really be a part of these sophisticated types of debates .....

That they have down there ....

In Washington, D.C. ....

Like this faux marine's right to perform his HADJI GIRL song ....

While in uniform ...

As an alleged United States Marine ...

As George W. Bush has them be ...

These days ...

And so ....

Maybe, Snuf ....

I am just too visceral a person, yet .....

But me ....

I don't see no debate here, at all ....

NONE ....

And what I would tell this faux marine ....

Is this ....

AND IT SURE WOULDN'T BE DEBATABLE ....

OR NEGOTIABLE ...

FROM MY END, ANYWAY ....

IF YOU DON'T LEARN SOME MANNERS TOWARDS WOMEN AND GIRLS, SLICK .....

BEFORE YOU ROTATE BACK HERE TO OUR AMERICA .....

STAY THE HELL OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD ....

BECAUSE IF YOU COME AROUND HERE ...

WITH THAT ATTITUDE OF YOURS ....

TOWARDS WOMEN AND GIRLS ....

THAT COMES FORTH FROM YOUR LITTLE SONG HERE ....

I AM GOING TO SMELL YOU COMING ....

FROM MILES AWAY ....

AND I AM GOING TO HEAD RIGHT FOR YOU ....

AND I WILL FIND YOU ...

AND THEN ....

AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN ...

I WILL TAKE YOU ...

AND YOUR LACK OF MANNERS ....

AND I WILL PASTE THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH YOU ....

I'LL TAKE YOU BY THE BACK OF YOUR STUPID IGNORANT NECK ...

NO MATTER HOW BIG YOU ARE ....

BE YOU TEN FEET TALL ....

IT DON'T MATTER NONE TO ME ....

AND I'LL RUN YOU THROUGH THE WOODS ....

ALL OVER THE PLACE ....

AND I WILL BOUNCE YOUR HEAD ...

OFF OF EVERY ROCK ....

AND EVERY TREE THAT I COME TO ....

AND WHEN I GET TO THE HIGHWAY ON THE OTHER SIDE ...

I'LL TOSS YOU ....

AND YOUR PRETTY LITTLE MARINE ZOOT SUIT ...

OUT INTO THE MIDDLE OF IT ....

LIKE A PILE OF TRASH .....

PUTTING YOU BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM ....

IN A LITTLE BETTER CONDITION THAN YOU CAME IN ...

BECAUSE I'LL HAVE TAUGHT YOU A LESSON IN MANNERS ....

THAT YOUR PARENTS SHOULD HAVE TAUGHT YOU ...

BY THE TIME YOU WERE THREE ....

AND IF I SCUFF MY SHOES ..

OR DIRTY MY CLOTHES ....

WHIPPING YOUR SORRY *** ALL OVER TOWN ....

I'M GOING TO SEND THE CLEANING BILL ...

TO BIG PETE PACE ...

THE TOP MARINE ...

DOWN THERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ....

FOR MY HAVING HAD ....

TO DO HIS JOB FOR HIM ...

TEACHING ONE OF HIS DAMN FOOLS ....

NOT TO **** WITH A REAL AMERICAN CITIZEN ....

WHO DON'T LIKE COWARDS ....

IN MARINE UNIFORMS ....

WHO MISTREAT WOMEN AND GIRLS ....

AND I'LL SEND BIG PETE A TUITION BILL, AS WELL ...

FOR HAVING HAD TO "LEARN" THAT FOOL ....

WHAT BIG PETE PACE ....

THE TOP MARINE ...

DOWN THERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ....

SHOULD HAVE TAUGHT HIM IN BASIC TRAINING ....

WHICH IS SOME BASIC AMERICAN VALUES ....

LIKE NOT MISTREATING ....

WOMEN AND GIRLS .....

LIKE A COWARD WOULD ....

And so ....

That's how I see it, anyway, Snuf ....

And so .....

I guess I just ain't much for debate on this issue ....

No SAVOIR FAIRE, me .....

No sophistication ....

And so ....

[Livyjr]

And so ....

That's how I see it, anyway, Snuf ....

And so .....

I guess I just ain't much for debate on this issue ....

No SAVOIR FAIRE, me .....

No sophistication ....

And so ....

And while we are on the subject ....

Of my admitted lack of debating skills ....

And SAVOIR FAIRE ....

One day ....

Over in Viet Nam this was ....

And this would be back in 1969 .....

Out near the Cambodian border ....

Out beyond Trang Bang ....

In a 25th Infantry Division fire base .....

Someone came to me ....

And they told me about a patrol that they had just come back from ....

Where this new guy ...

This little punk ....

That reminds me a lot of this Marine with his song here, somehow ....

This little punk ...

Who had just got there ....

Had robbed this old lady ...

Of some gold chains that she had ....

And he roughed her up ...

And got her to shrieking ....

Which is a good way to attract attention to yourselves ....

In a place where everyone is armed ...

And don't like foreign invaders ....

Such as we were ...

****ING WITH THEM ...

And especially ....

Their women ....

And children ...

And old folks ....

And I told this guy ...

To go over ....

And call this guy out of his bunker ....

And when he came out ....

Which was through this passage he had to crawl through ....

I caught him on the way out ....

With the muzzle of my M-16 .....

Jammed right into the bridge of his nose ....

Which stopped him right dead ...

And snapped his head back ...

And opened up his mouth for him ....

And widened his eyes some ....

And when I was sure that I had this guy's real attention .....

When I thought that we had reached a sort of plateau ....

Of where we could communicate back and forth as equals ....

COMRADES IN ARMS, even ....

What I told him was this ...

THAT RIGHT THEN AND THERE ...

This fool ....

Was confronted with real DEMOCRACY .....

In just about as purest a form as it could be ...

Where he got to do anything at all ...

That he wanted to do ...

Like rob this old lady ...

Which he had done ....

AND I GOT TO DO ANYTHING THAT I WANTED TO DO, AS WELL ...

WHICH WAS TO BLOW HIS HEAD OFF ...

WHICH IS WHY I HAD THE MUZZLE OF MY WEAPON ...

ON THE BRIDGE OF HIS NOSE ...

INSTEAD OF IN HIS MOUTH ....

OR IN HIS EYE ...

And so ....

And I explained to him ...

Exactly how much control ...

That he had ...

OVER LIFE ...

AND DEATH ITSELF ....

IN THAT MOMENT ...

AND CONTROL OVER ME, AS WELL ....

Or at least my trigger finger, anyway ....

THAT IN A REAL DEMOCRACY ....

Well, we all get to make choices ....

Each and every one of us ...

And the choice that I was making right then ...

Was to give him a choice ...

As to whether I pulled that trigger right then ...

Or whether he got to live ...

For a moment more, anyway ...

Because after all ...

IN REAL LIFE ....

Well ...

Nothing is certain ....

And so ....

And for him ...

RIGHT THEN, ANYWAY .....

IT WAS ALL REAL SIMPLE ....

BLACK ....

OR WHITE .....

HIS CHOICE ....

NO SHADES OF GRAY ...

TO CONFUSE HIM ....

IN THAT MOMENT ....

WHERE I WAS WAITING TO SEE ....

WHAT DIRECTION ....

HE WANTED TO STEER THE DISCUSSION IN ....

And for him ...

And this is a real story ....

It all revolved around what his attitude was going to be ...

FROM THAT INSTANT, ONWARD ....

And out there ...

In the realest of real life ....

Where this was all happening ....

He chose not to die ...

BECAUSE KILL HIM I WOULD HAVE ....

And out there in the field ....

Where that fool's actions ....

Were going to cost other people their lives ....

No one was going to miss him when he was gone ...

And no one was going to do DOODLEY-SQUAT to me ....

For saving American lives ...

By ridding ourselves of him ...

And so ....

THAT IS REALITY ...

AS I KNOW IT, ANYWAY ....

And I'm not proud of any of that ...

Not by a long shot ....

But to me ...

That is just how simple ...

Life can really be at times ....

Especially in a time of alleged war .....

And so ....

One other thing that I would tell this faux marine with the little song to sing ...

BE DAMN GLAD THAT WASN'T ME IN THAT HOUSE ...

BECAUSE I WOULDN'T HAVE MISSED ....

AND IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN NO LITTLE GIRL THAT I HIT, EITHER ...

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE BRIDGE OF HIS NOSE ...

WHICH PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CAUSED HIM SOME PROBLEMS ....

WITH THE REST OF HIS HEAD ...

BUT WHAT THE HEY ....

HE'S A REAL MAN ....

HE'S A U.S. MARINE ...

And everybody knows ...

You don't **** with one of those ....

And so ...

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS PROBLEM TO DEAL WITH, OF COURSE ...

And so .....

Maybe there are just times in life ....

Where too much SAVOIR FAIRE ....

Can be a real hindrance ...

To the action that is needed ....

At that moment in time ....

And so ....

[Livyjr]

"Dean repeats call for Iraq troop drawdown"

Associated Press
Last updated: 3:55 p.m., Saturday, June 24, 2006

WASHINGTON -- The head of the Democratic Party blamed the Bush administration's "failed political leadership and lack of foresight and planning" for turning U.S. soldiers into targets for the Iraqi insurgency.

In his party's weekly radio address Saturday, Howard Dean said the Republican plan of "stay the course" is not an option in the 3-year-old war and emphasized the Democratic call for a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops to begin by year's end.

He also rejected the Republican criticism that Democrats want to "cut and run."

"Among the victims are brave American soldiers who are the targets of an insurgency because of failed political leadership and a lack of foresight and planning," Dean said.

"We don't want another wall with 55,000 names of courageous Americans who were let down by their government."

The reference was to the black granite memorial in Washington with the names of those who died in Vietnam.

Dean described the Democratic proposals offered in the Senate last week, including the start of a phased redeployment of troops and an accounting of the war's costs.

The Republican-controlled Senate soundly rejected two Democratic plans calling for the United States to begin withdrawing most of the 127,000 American forces in the war zone.

Republicans contend that leaving would amount to a policy of retreat that would threaten national security.

Vice President Dick Cheney said withdrawal of U.S. forces would be giving the terrorists what they want.

During the Senate debate, John McCain, R-Ariz., said leaving Iraq would "risk disaster" there.

"Withdrawal and fail, or commit and succeed," he said.

Dean argued that Republicans don't have a plan.

"'Stay the course' is not a plan."

"Saying the problems in Iraq will be left to the next president is not a plan."

"Our troops deserve better," he said.

Dean added that phrases such as "peace is at hand" and "the insurgency is in its last throes" are made by what he called an increasingly desperate administration.

Cheney said last week that he stood by his statement that the insurgency was in its last throes.

Dean rejected the "cut and run" moniker, saying Democrats "will defend America, but we will be tough and smart."

In heated rhetoric, Cheney and White House adviser Karl Rove have assailed Democrats such as John Kerry and John Murtha, both decorated Vietnam veterans.

Rove said those Democrats "may be with you at the first shots, but they are not going to be there for the last tough battles."

Said Dean, "A majority of the American people don't believe the president is telling the truth, while the administration and its supporters question the patriotism of veterans who disagree with them, accusing them of 'cut and run.'"

end quotes

WHAT A MOCKERY!

KARL ROVE ....

And Dick Cheney ....

ATTACKING ACTUAL AMERICAN COMBAT VETERANS .....

MOCKING THEM, EVEN ....

AND CALLING THEM COWARDS ....

WHEN DICK CHENEY ...

AND KARL ROVE ...

ARE THE EPITOME OF COWARDS ....

HERE IN OUR AMERICA ....

NEITHER OF WHOM ....

WOULD EVEN BE THERE ...

IN THE FIRST PLACE ....

WHERE THE SHOTS WERE ACTUALLY BEING FIRED ...

HAVING RUN AWAY ...

THEMSELVES ....

TO HIDE ....

BACK IN THE VIET NAM DAYS ....

And so ...

KARL, DICK ....

Listen up, boys .....

Out in the country ...

Which is still most of OUR America ....

COWARD IS ....

AS COWARD DOES ....

And so .....

[Livyjr]

"Dean repeats call for Iraq troop drawdown" 
 
Associated Press
Last updated: 3:55 p.m., Saturday, June 24, 2006

WASHINGTON -- The head of the Democratic Party blamed the Bush administration's "failed political leadership and lack of foresight and planning" for turning U.S. soldiers into targets for the Iraqi insurgency.
 
"We don't want another wall with 55,000 names of courageous Americans who were let down by their government."

In heated rhetoric, Cheney and White House adviser Karl Rove have assailed Democrats such as John Kerry and John Murtha, both decorated Vietnam veterans.

Rove said those Democrats "may be with you at the first shots, but they are not going to be there for the last tough battles."

"US raid in Iraq sparks outrage"

36 minutes ago

TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. forces hunting al Qaeda insurgents raided the home of a senior Sunni Arab religious leader in Iraq on Saturday, seizing him and four suspected terrorists, the U.S. military said.

The arrest of Sheikh Jamal Abdel Karim al-Dabaan sparked outrage among Iraq's Sunnis.

The Iraqi Islamic Party, whose leader is one of the country's vice-presidents, condemned it and many government officials in predominantly Sunni Salahaddin province suspended work in protest, the deputy governor said.

The U.S. military said it had been acting on intelligence gathered following the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, in a U.S. air strike on June 7.

Dabaan is a top mufti, or religious authority, for most of Iraq's minority Sunni Muslim community, which was dominant under Saddam Hussein and now forms the backbone of the insurgency against the Shi'ite-led government.

His arrest came the day before Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is expected to present a national reconciliation plan to end sectarian tensions and defuse a Sunni insurgency.

An Iraqi security source at the joint Iraqi-U.S. coordination center in Tikrit 175 km (110 miles) north of Baghdad said Dabaan had been arrested along with two sons.

The Iraqi Islamic Party said another religious leader who had been a guest in Dabaan's home, Sheikh Abdalilah al-Hiti, was also arrested.

The U.S. military said it had not known beforehand that it was Dabaan's home and they had since released him.

They made no mention of his sons or Hiti.

The deputy governor of Salahaddin said earlier that most provincial government offices had suspended work in protest at the arrest of Dabaan and were refusing to return to work until he was freed.

The U.S. military said one of the suspects detained was "directly associated with several senior-level al Qaeda members and reportedly plays an important role in the network between Baquba and Tikrit."

It said troops had come under pistol fire from two suspects when they arrived at the sheikh's house, who were quickly overpowered and detained.

Five AK-47s assault rifles, 13 loaded magazines and two pistols had been recovered and destroyed on site.

Tikrit is the hometown of Saddam, who is on trial for crimes against humanity.

[Livyjr]

WHERE IS THE DEBATE, HERE?

That is what I am missing ....

And who exactly is having this so-called "HADJI GIRL DEBATE"?

Some think-tank down there?

Some liberal talk show host?

I mean ....

I just don't understand here ....

WHAT IS THERE HERE TO DEBATE?

Are we debating this guy's right to have sung this song?

Whether it had a good beat?

Whether you could dance to it?

OR NOT?

OR WHAT?

COMMISSIONING OATH OF OFFICERS IN OUR UNITED STATES MILITARY, TO INCLUDE THE OFFICERS OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, AS IT WAS BEFORE GEORGE W. BUSH AND KARL ROVE AND DONALD RUMSFELD TOOK OVER AND PERVERTED EVERYTHING THAT WAS "AMERICAN" BEFORE THEY GOT THERE .....

I (name of American citizen who is actually taking the oath) DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR ......

THAT I .....

WILL SUPPORT ....

AND DEFEND .....

THE CONSTITUTION ....

OF THE UNITED STATES ....

AGAINST ALL ENEMIES ....

FOREIGN ....

AND DOMESTIC .......

THAT I WILL MAINTAIN .....

TRUE FAITH .....

AND ALLEGIANCE .....

TO THE SAME .....

THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION ....

FREELY .....

WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION ...

OR PURPOSE OF EVASION .....

AND THAT I WILL ....

WELL AND FAITHFULLY ....

DISCHARGE THE DUTIES ....

OF THE OFFICE ....

THAT I AM ABOUT TO ENTER ......

And so ....

[Livyjr]

June 22, 2006

NY Times

"G.O.P. Decides to Embrace War as Issue"

By JIM RUTENBERG and ADAM NAGOURNEY

WASHINGTON, June 21 — A senior adviser to Mr. Bush said the White House had concluded that it was better to plunge aggressively into the debate on Iraq than to let Democrats play upon clear, public misgivings about the war.

"This is going to be a big issue in this election," said the adviser, who was granted anonymity in exchange for agreeing to describe strategic considerations about the war.

"Better to shape and fight it — as good and strongly as you can — than to try to run away from it."

In a telephone interview, Ken Mehlman, the Republican chairman, disputed the notion that the latest difficulties in Iraq would set back the effort to push the debate onto newly favorable terms for Republicans.

Officials at the White House say they had always planned to use the formation of a new, permanent Iraqi government as a lever to seize control of a debate that had been slipping away from them.

AND AS THE NEW, PERMANENT IRAQI GOVERNMENT WEIGHS IN ....

ON THE WORLD-WIDE DEBATE .....

KNOWN AS THE "HADJI GIRL DEBATE" ....

WHICH IS SLIPPING AWAY ....

FROM GEORGE W. BUSH ....

AND KARL ROVE ...

AT A FASTER AND FASTER RATE ....

EVERY DAY NOW ....

"Iraq amnesty offer upsets U.S. lawmakers"

By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer

16 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Members of Congress on Sunday denounced any Iraqi plan that would grant amnesty to insurgents responsible for the deaths of U.S. troops.

As part of a plan to mend sectarian strife, Iraq's prime minister has proposed extending amnesty to insurgents and opposition figures who have not been involved in terrorist activities.

Lawmakers are still trying to ascertain the details of the reconciliation plan that Nouri al-Maliki released on Sunday.

It came out after a week of intense debate in Washington over the deployment of U.S. forces and political posturing on the war months before November's elections.

Michigan Sen. Carl Levin, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said extending amnesty to anyone responsible for killing U.S. troops was "unconscionable."

"For heaven's sake, we liberated that country," Levin said on "Fox News Sunday."

"We got rid of a horrific dictator."

"We've paid a tremendous price."

"More than 2,500 Americans have given up their lives."

"The idea that they should even consider talking about amnesty for people who have killed people who liberated their country is unconscionable."

Sen. John Warner, R-Va., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that while he opposes amnesty, the United States must respect Iraq's sovereign right to decide its own future.

He said the U.S. government will not dictate, but will consult with Iraqi officials on all aspects of the plan.

"I want the Iraqi people to take this decision unto themselves and make it correctly," Warner said.

"And I hope it comes out ... no amnesty for anyone who committed an act of violence, of war crimes."

In presenting the plan to the Iraqi parliament, al-Maliki said Sunday that insurgent killers would not escape justice regardless of whether their victims were Iraqis or U.S.-led coalition forces.

"The launch of this national reconciliation initiative should not be read as a reward for the killers and criminals or acceptance of their actions," he said.

The White House welcomed the initiative, yet did not comment specifically on Iraqi plans to embrace certain insurgents, saying the plan was still being developed.

"Reconciliation must be an Iraqi process, led by Iraqis," White House spokesman Ken Lisaius said.

"We, of course, stand by, ready to assist in this effort — if the Iraqis request our help."

"But it's important to note that this is the first step, and it's a process that will take time to fully develop."

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on ABC's "This Week" said he does not believe the Iraqi government intends to grant amnesty to people who killed Americans.

Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., said if there is to be peace in Iraq, al-Maliki must find a formula for moving forward that is acceptable to all.

"I'm hopeful that one of elements of the formula that he presents to the Sunnis is not amnesty because that is going to run into solid opposition, obviously, in the United States," Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told CBS' "Face the Nation."

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., urged President Bush to get a commitment from al-Maliki that there will be no amnesty for anyone who has killed U.S. troops.

end quotes

THE UNITED STATES DID NOT "LIBERATE" IRAQ!

THE UNITED STATES INVADED IRAQ!

AND SADDAM HUSSEIN WAS A UNITED STATES "PUPPET"!

And so ....

Me?

I am with Senator JOHN WARNER of Virginia on this one .....

IT IS THE CHOICE OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE ...

Who to give amnesty to ....

IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY ....

WHICH IS NOT THE "PROPERTY" ....

OF GEORGE W. BUSH ....

OR KARL ROVE ...

OR KEN MEHLMAN .....

AND THE WAR-MONGERING REPUBLICAN PARTY ....

OF AMERICA AND THE WORLD ....

And so ....

A lesson emerging here ....

WHICH AMERICA SHOULD HEED REAL WELL ...

IS THAT BEFORE GEORGE W. BUSH INVADED IRAQ ....

PERHAPS HE SHOULD HAVE STUDIED ....

OUR OWN HISTORY ...

TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO INVADERS ....

IN WHICH CASE ....

HE MIGHT HAVE ACTED WITH MORE SENSE THAN HE DID ....

INVADING IRAQ ...

AS A PUBLICITY STUNT ...

TO GET HIM RE-ELECTED ...

TO A SECOND TERM IN THE WHITE HOUSE ...

And so ...

SUCK IT UP, GEORGE ...

If the Iraqi people ....

Decide to give amnesty ....

To those who only did ....

What a REAL AMERICAN would do in the same situation ....

IF OUR COUNTRY WAS BEING INVADED ...

BY SOMEONE LIKE YOU ...

COME TO STEAL OUR OIL ....

And so .....

[jeffmoskin]

A lesson emerging here ....

WHICH AMERICA SHOULD HEED REAL WELL ...

IS THAT BEFORE GEORGE W. BUSH INVADED IRAQ ....

PERHAPS HE SHOULD HAVE STUDIED ....

OUR OWN HISTORY ...

TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO INVADERS ....

IN WHICH CASE ....

HE MIGHT HAVE ACTED WITH MORE SENSE THAN HE DID ....

INVADING IRAQ ...

AS A PUBLICITY STUNT ...

TO GET HIM RE-ELECTED ...

TO A SECOND TERM IN THE WHITE HOUSE ...

And so ...

SUCK IT UP, GEORGE ...

If the Iraqi people ....

Decide to give amnesty ....

To those who only did ....

What a REAL AMERICAN would do in the same situation ....

IF OUR COUNTRY WAS BEING INVADED ...

BY SOMEONE LIKE YOU ...

COME TO STEAL OUR OIL ....

George W Bush is known for his extreme lack of interest in history. Prior to "taking office," he never once even travelled outside of the US. He should be known as "Uncurious George."

[Livyjr]

COMMISSIONING OATH OF OFFICERS IN OUR UNITED STATES MILITARY, TO INCLUDE THE OFFICERS OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, AS IT WAS BEFORE GEORGE W. BUSH AND KARL ROVE AND DONALD RUMSFELD TOOK OVER AND PERVERTED EVERYTHING THAT WAS "AMERICAN" BEFORE THEY GOT THERE .....

I (name of American citizen who is actually taking the oath, to include UNITED STATES SENATOR JOHN FORBES KERRY, and UNITED STATES CONGRESSMAN JOHN MURTHA) DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR ......

THAT I .....

WILL SUPPORT ....

AND DEFEND .....

THE CONSTITUTION ....

OF THE UNITED STATES ....

AGAINST ALL ENEMIES ....

FOREIGN ....

AND DOMESTIC .......

THAT I WILL MAINTAIN .....

TRUE FAITH .....

AND ALLEGIANCE .....

TO THE SAME .....

THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION ....

FREELY .....

WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION ...

OR PURPOSE OF EVASION .....

AND THAT I WILL ....

WELL AND FAITHFULLY ....

DISCHARGE THE DUTIES ....

OF THE OFFICE ....

THAT I AM ABOUT TO ENTER ......

And so ....

"Dean repeats call for Iraq troop drawdown" 
 
Associated Press
Last updated: 3:55 p.m., Saturday, June 24, 2006

WASHINGTON -- In heated rhetoric, Cheney and White House adviser Karl Rove have assailed Democrats such as John Kerry and John Murtha, both decorated Vietnam veterans.

Rove said those Democrats "may be with you at the first shots, but they are not going to be there for the last tough battles."

As we approach the mid-term CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS ......

KARL ROVE ....

Who himself is not a veteran .....

Has decided to RATCHET UP .....

What he calls a DEBATE, here in OUR America .....

On what his REPUBLICAN PARTY .....

Claims is a WAR ...

But which in reality ...

IS AN EFFECT .....

THE CAUSE OF WHICH ....

WAS GEORGE W. BUSH'S PUBLICITY STUNT ....

Of giving Saddam Hussein 48 hours ...

Or something like that, anyway ...

"TO GET OUT OF DODGE CITY ..."

Er ....

Iraq ....

That's it ....

48 hours to get out of Iraq ....

AS THOUGH IRAQ were nothing more than DODGE CITY ....

And GEORGE W. BUSH ....

Was WYATT ERP ....

Or "LONG JOHNNY TEXAS BOY" .....

Or "TEXAS JIM BOB WILLY" .....

Or something like that, anyway ....

Some kind of GUN-TOTIN' SHERIFF ....

UP FROM TEXAS ....

With fire in his eyes ...

And sand in his belly .....

GONNA' CLEAN OUT THAT NEST ...

OF THEM THAR VARMINTS .....

LIKE IT WAS SOME KIND OF ZANY COWBOY MOVIE WE WERE WATCHING ....

Instead of an idiot ....

In over his head ...

And taking OUR America right in there with him ....

To God alone knows where ....

And so .....

When in truth ...

And in actual fact ....

GEORGE WASN'T NO SHERIFF, AT ALL ....

THAT WAS JUST A MYTH ....

AND A MIRAGE ...

A PHANTASM ...

COOKED UP IN THE UNDERGROUND LABRATORIES ....

OF KARL ROVE, INCOPORATED ....

And so ....

NO SHERIFF, GEORGE ....

TO THE CONTRARY ....

George was really not much more than a fool ....

If even that ....

And so ....

STUPID WAS ...

AS STUPID DID .....

And so ...

But that is a different issue right now, how stupid George really was ....

When he stood up there like he was BATMAN ....

Or SUPERMAN ...

Or "TEXAS JIM BOB WILLY" ...

And told the candid world ...

That he was giving Saddam Hussein ...

48 hours to get out of Dodge, er, Iraq ....

WHICH APPARENTLY ....

IS ONE OF THE MANY THINGS ....

THAT THIS REPUBLICAN SENATOR FROM CONNECTICUT ....

This SHAYS ....

WANTS TO DO OVER AGAIN ....

TO TRY AND GET IT RIGHT, THIS TIME ...

And so ....

But that too is another issue, of course .....

And so ....

THE ISSUE NOW ...

THE "KARL ROVE ISSUE" .....

WHICH IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO THIS "HADJI GIRL DEBATE" .....

That is raging around the world right now .....

Which DEBATE centers around the "RIGHT" .....

Or "AUTHORITY" .....

That George W. Bush has ....

As COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ....

Of OUR MILITARY ....

TO INSTILL ....

UN-AMERICAN VALUES ...

SUCH AS BIGOTRY ...

AND HATE-MONGERING ....

IN THE ENLISTED RANKS ...

AND OFFICER CORPS ....

OF OUR AMERICAN MILITARY ....

WHICH HAPPENS TO BE GEORGE'S PRIVATE "KILLING MACHINE" RIGHT NOW ...

OUT TO DO SOME "GENOCIDE FOR GEORGE" ....

Out there in the candid world ...

Where those people have no CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ....

Nor protections ....

THE "KARL ROVE ISSUE" .....

Really has to do with an ADMISSION .....

THAT IS IMPLICIT ....

IN KARL ROVE'S VERY PUBLIC STATEMENTS ....

Concerning John Kerry ....

And Jack Murtha ....

BOTH OF WHOM SERVED AS OFFICERS OF AMERICA'S MILITARY FORCES ....

And hence ....

Swore or affirmed this OATH above here ....

TO WELL AND FAITHFULLY ....

DISCHARGE THE DUTIES ....

OF THE OFFICE ....

THAT THEY IN FACT DID ENTER ......

And so .....

While it may not be apparent to Americans who never served in OUR military .....

What KARL ROVE is really doing ...

With his comments ....

BESIDES THE OBVIOUS ....

WHICH IS MAKING UNFOUNDED SLURS ON THE CHARACTER OF BOTH JOHN MURTHA ...

AND JOHN KERRY ...

AND CASTING UNFOUNDED ASPERSIONS AGAISNT THEM AS WELL ....

IS REVEALING HOW KARL ROVE HIMSELF REALLY VIEWS THAT OFFICER'S OATH ....

IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF GEORGE W. BUSH ....

WHICH IS AS SOMETHING BOTH HOLLOW ....

AND EMPTY ...

And therefore ...

COMPLETELY WORTHLESS ....

Which would be a fitting comment ....

Coming from KARL ROVE, as it does ....

Because in this present administration ...

THAT IS ALL OATHS ARE ....

Mere formalities ...

And so .....

Taking KARL ROVE at his word here .....

It can be assumed ....

With a high degree of certainty ....

That any and all officers ....

COMMISSIONED IN OUR MILITARY .....

By George W. Bush ....

Have affirmed ....

NOTHING AT ALL ....

The OATH being empty and meaningless, now ....

In this day and age of George W. Bush ...

AND NO INTEGRITY ...

IN OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ....

And so ...

KARL, baby ....

AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN ....

I THINK THIS DEBATE YOU WANT TO HAVE ....

ON THE CHARACTER ...

OF JOHN KERRY ....

AND JACK MURTHA ....

AS OFFICERS OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ....

WELL AND FAITHFULLY ....

DISCHARGING THE DUTIES ....

OF THE OFFICES ....

THAT THEY OCCUPIED IN OUR AMERICAN MILITARY .....

IN TIMES OF WAR ....

VERSUS HOW YOUNG LIEUTENANT GEORGE W. BUSH SO CARELESSLY DISCHARGED HIS ....

Is not only a real good idea ....

But it is very timely ....

And healthy ...

FOR OUR REPUBLIC ...

And OUR democracy ...

And so ...

KARL, baby ....

BRING IT ON!

That is my thought, this evening ....

And so ....

[Livyjr]

George W Bush is known for his extreme lack of interest in history.

Prior to "taking office," he never once even travelled outside of the US.

He should be known as "Uncurious George."

Or just plain "GEORGE THE DOLT" ....

Before the 2000 elections ...

George W. Bush ...

When questioned ....

Was not really certain .....

That there really was anything ....

Outside of Texas ....

Let alone the United States ...

To travel to ....

Or be knowledgeable of ....

Or concerned about ....

And so .....

My father was born in the same year as John Kennedy ....

And I had respect for John Kennedy .....

AS A LEADER ....

While I myself was born ...

In the same year as George W. Bush ....

Who I have nothing but the utmost contempt for ....

BECAUSE HE IS NOT A LEADER AT ALL ....

Rather, he is a DIVIDER ....

And a HATE-MONGER ...

Doing what appears to be ....

A bit of GENOCIDE ....

Out there in that world that he didn't used to know about ...

Back in the days .....

WHEN HE DIDN'T HAVE ...

THE BOMBS ....

AND THE BULLETS ...

TO BLOW IT ALL TO HELL ...

And so .....

It seems we really took some kind of a dive there ....

IN QUALITY ...

AND INTEGRITY ....

From the kind of president ....

That my father's generation produced ....

To this one that my generation produced ....

And so .....

If that was the greatest generation ....

Based on people like John Kennedy ....

Mine will likely be known ...

AS THE ONE THAT WASN'T WORTH MUCH AT ALL ....

Based on George W. Bush as president ....

And so ....

[Livyjr]

AND AS THE NEW, PERMANENT IRAQI GOVERNMENT WEIGHS IN ....

ON THE WORLD-WIDE DEBATE .....

KNOWN AS THE "HADJI GIRL DEBATE" ....

WHICH IS SLIPPING AWAY ....

FROM GEORGE W. BUSH ....

AND KARL ROVE ...

AT A FASTER AND FASTER RATE ....

EVERY DAY NOW ....

"Iraq amnesty offer upsets U.S. lawmakers"

By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Members of Congress on Sunday denounced any Iraqi plan that would grant amnesty to insurgents responsible for the deaths of U.S. troops.

As part of a plan to mend sectarian strife, Iraq's prime minister has proposed extending amnesty to insurgents and opposition figures who have not been involved in terrorist activities.

Michigan Sen. Carl Levin, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said extending amnesty to anyone responsible for killing U.S. troops was "unconscionable."

"For heaven's sake, we liberated that country," Levin said on "Fox News Sunday."

"We got rid of a horrific dictator."

"We've paid a tremendous price."

"More than 2,500 Americans have given up their lives."

"The idea that they should even consider talking about amnesty for people who have killed people who liberated their country is unconscionable."

Sen. John Warner, R-Va., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that while he opposes amnesty, the United States must respect Iraq's sovereign right to decide its own future.

And let us be frank here this morning, America ....

THE LIVES ....

OF EVERY PERSON ...

KILLED IN IRAQ ...

SINCE GEORGE W. BUSH'S INVASION ....

WHETHER AMERICAN ....

OR OTHERWISE ....

ARE NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY ....

OF THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ!

THEY ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY ...

JUST AS ALL THOSE KILLED IN VIET NAM WERE THE RESPONSIBILITY ....

OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ...

WHO SENT THEM THERE TO DIE ...

Yes, America .....

That is right .....

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE ...

But America always wants to blame its mistakes on others ...

And so .....

Go ahead and look for scapegoats ...

But in the end ...

That don't change nothing at all ....

Those lives ...

Are on your hands ...

Not the hands of some Abu Zimbabwe Rhodesia or whoever 8,000 miles from the nearest American border .....

And the deaths of all those people ....

ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY ....

OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS ....

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE TO US, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ....

FOR THOSE LIVES ...

WHICH THEY CHOSE TO SQUANDER ....

IN A PUBLICITY STUNT .....

TO SALVE THE MASSIVE EGO ...

OF GEORGE W. BUSH ....

THE WORLD'S SMALLEST MAN .....

AMERICA CHOSE ...

TO PUT THOSE LIVES ...

INTO THE HANDS ...

OF A FOOL ....

AND LIKE A FOOL WOULD DO ....

GEORGE W. BUSH WASTED THOSE LIVES ....

FOR THE SAKE OF HIS EGO ...

AND STEALING IRAQI OIL, OF COURSE ...

AND SO ...

There is no real debate here, on the past ....

THE ONLY REAL DEBATE LEFT ...

IS HOW MANY MORE LIVES ...

AMERICA WANTS GEORGE W. BUSH ....

AND THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES .....

TO SQUANDER ....

AND SO ....

That makes life for us very easy over here .....

When you think on it ...

If you want a lot more misery ...

And death ...

And dying ...

And crying ...

Well ...

VOTE REPUBLICAN .....

And vote for DEMOCRAT CARL LEVIN, TOO ....

And if you want change ...

As I do ...

Well ...

God help us ....

BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS ...

AND THE REPUBLICANS ....

SURE HAVE NOTHING OF SUBSTANCE TO OFFER US ...

And so ....

[Livyjr]

"Dean repeats call for Iraq troop drawdown" 
 
Associated Press
Last updated: 3:55 p.m., Saturday, June 24, 2006

WASHINGTON -- In heated rhetoric, Cheney and White House adviser Karl Rove have assailed Democrats such as John Kerry and John Murtha, both decorated Vietnam veterans.

Rove said those Democrats "may be with you at the first shots, but they are not going to be there for the last tough battles."

And another point that I would like to make incandescently clear in here this morning ...

Is that I do not want to debate ...

With KARL ROVE ...

Or anybody else, for that matter ...

What George W. Bush might or might not have been doing back in the Viet Nam days ...

When he went missing from duty ....

And nobody really knew where he was ....

Beyond the fact that George was fat and happy ....

Which was his due, of course ...

Coming from that "CLASS", here in OUR America ....

That gets to do that kind of "stuff' .....

While a lot of lesser Americans had to give their lives for their country ...

IN ANOTHER STUPID WAR .....

Because that is all a matter of record, now ...

And it is history ...

George found himself a good place to coop .....

So he wouldn't have to do any "heavy lifting" himself ...

And so ...

HEY!

C'mon, after all ....

It is AMERICA, after all ...

And we are a DEMOCRACY ...

And so ...

People like George W. Bush ...

Who wish to "skate" ....

And can ....

Because they had a "POWERFUL DADDY", like George did, to protect him from harm's way ....

ACTUALLY DO GET TO "SKATE" .....

Just like George did ....

And be irresponsible ....

While their lessers are dying in a foreign invasion ...

And so ....

And that is just how things work in a democracy ...

And I can handle that, me ....

No ...

The issue with KARL ROVE ...

Has to do with all of these false accusations that he is slinging around all the time ...

WHILE HE IS A UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE ....

And not just some schmoe .....

Out there running his mouth ...

And flapping his gums ...

Like this Mehlman dude .....

And so ...

SINCE KARL ROVE IS OUR EMPLOYEE ....

WHY DO WE HAVE TO TOLERATE THIS KIND OF CONDUCT OUT OF HIM?

WHY DOES KARL ROVE ...

WHO ISN'T ANYTHING OF VALUE TO MOST OF US ....

GET TO TAKE OUR MONEY ....

OUT OF OUR POCKETS ...

AND THEN LIE TO US ....

As he is doing above here .....

Where he FALSELY ACCUSING ...

John Kerry ...

And Jack Murtha ....

OF COWARDICE .....

Which is exactly what KARL ROVE is doing above here ....

MAKING FALSE ACCUSATIONS ....

TO US, THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA ...

WHILE HE IS LOADING UP HIS POCKETS ....

WITH OUR TAX MONEY ....

TO KEEP HIMSELF ...

IN HIGH STYLE ...

WHILE HE DOES SO .....

HOW DOES KARL ROVE GET THIS LIBERTY ...

TO LIE TO US ...

WHILE STEALING FROM US ....

FOR THE PARTISAN POILTICAL PURPOSES ...

OF THIS MEHLMAN ...

AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

WHY DO WE TOLERATE LIARS ...

IN THE HIGHEST LEVELS ....

OF OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

WHY IS KARL ROVE ...

NEVER CONFRONTED ...

WHEN HE TELLS LIES ....

AS WE WOULD BE ...

IF WE DID THE SAME?

IS IT BECAUSE KARL ROVE ...

IS SO MUCH HIGHER ....

AND MIGHTIER THAN US ....

THAT WE LET HIM LIE ...

WHEN WE WOULDN'T ACCEPT ...

THAT KIND OF CONDUCT ....

FROM OUR OWN CHILDREN ....

Or would we?

Maybe that is the point that I am missing here ....

WE TOLERATE KARL ROVE ...

AS A LIAR ...

IN THE HIGHEST LEVELS ...

OF OUR GOVERNMENT ...

BECAUSE EVERYTHING ABOUT AMERICA ITSELF ....

IS A LIE AS WELL ...

And so ....

[Livyjr]

HADJI GIRL

I WAS OUT IN THE SANDS OF IRAQ
AND WE WERE UNDER ATTACK
AND I, WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO.
AND THE FIRST THINK I COULD SEE WAS
EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE BURGER KING
SO I THREW OPEN THE DOOR AND I HIT THE FLOOR.
THEN SUDDENLY TO MY SURPRISE
I LOOKED UP AND I SAW HER EYES
AND I KNEW IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
AND SHE SAID
DURKA DURKA MOHAMMED JIHAD
SHERPA SHERPA BAK ALLAH
HADJI GIRL I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU?RE SAYING.
AND SHE SAID
DURKA DURKA MOHAMMED JIHAD
SHERPA SHERPA BAK ALLAH
HADJI GIRL I LOVE YOU ANYWAY.

THEN SHE SAID THAT SHE WANTED ME TO SEE.
SHE WANTED ME TO MEET HER FAMILY
BUT I, WELL, I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO SAY NO.
CAUSE I DON?T SPEAK ARABIC.
SO, SHE TOOK ME DOWN AN OLD DIRT TRAIL.
AND SHE PULLED UP TO A SIDE SHANTY
AND SHE THREW OPEN THE DOOR AND I HIT THE FLOOR.
CAUSE HER BROTHER AND HER FATHER SHOUTED
DURKA DURKA MOHAMMED JIHAD
SHERPA SHERPA BAK ALLAH
THEY PULLED OUT THEIR AKS SO I COULD SEE
AND THEY SAID
DURKA DURKA MOHAMMED JIHAD
SHERPA SHERPA BAK ALLAH
SO I GRABBED HER LITTLE SISTER AND PULLED HER IN FRONT OF ME.
AS THE BULLETS BEGAN TO FLY
THE BLOOD SPRAYED FROM BETWEEN HER EYES
AND THEN I LAUGHED MANIACALLY
THEN I HID BEHIND THE TV
AND I LOCKED AND LOADED MY M-16
AND I BLEW THOSE LITTLE F***ERS TO ETERNITY.
AND I SAID

DURKA DURKA MOHAMMED JIHAD
SHERPA SHERPA BAK ALLAH
THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THEY WERE F***ING WITH A MARINE

--The lyrics to the "Hadji Girl," sung by a Marine, Cpl. Joshua Belile, who was videotaped during the performance; cited in Thomas Riggins, "The 'Hadji Girl' Debate and the Fog of War" (Political Affairs Magazine/Selves and others, June 21)
http://www.selvesandothers.org/article14713.html

And while we are on the subject ...

Of some ordinary schmoe out there ...

Like this Mehlman dude .....

Running his mouth ....

And flapping his jaws ....

And mouthing inanities ....

Let's get back to this "HADJI GIRL MAH-RHEEN" above here .......

THIS CORPORAL JOSHUA BELILE .....

ALLEGEDLY OF THE UNITED STATES MARINES ...

WHO WHILE HE IS WEARING THAT UNIFORM .....

AS A NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER .....

IN OUR UNITED STATES MILITARY ...

Clearly is no ordinary schmoe ...

NOT AT ALL .....

And so .....

AS A CORPORAL IN THE UNITED STATES MARINES ...

If in fact that is what this "HADJI GIRL SINGER" above here really is .......

THIS JOSHUA BELILE ....

IS IN FACT ...

A PART OF THE MILITARY CHAIN OF COMMAND ....

THAT GOES DIRECTLY THROUGH BIG PETE PACE ....

THE MARINE ...

WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF ....

RIGHT TO THE DESK ....

OF GEORGE W. BUSH ....

And so ...

And as an aside ....

THIS BIG PETE PACE .....

THE MARINE WHO IS CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEF OF STAFFS ....

WELL, LET ME TELL YOU ....

HE HAS TO BE ONE OF THE SPIFFIEST DRESSED MILITARY MEN ...

THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN ...

IN MY LIFE ....

I SAW HIM THE OTHER DAY ....

IN SOME KIND OF UNIFORM ...

ALL WHITE AND SPANGLY ....

THAT SIMPLY DAZED ME .....

I THOUGHT THAT I WAS SEEING A HAPSBURG ARCH-DUKE ....

OR A MALE BALLERINA PORTRAYING A ROMANOV TSAR ....

OR A SPANISH BULL FIGHTER, PERHAPS .......

WHICH I UNDERSTAND ...

IS A PART OF THE PAGEANTRY ....

THAT KARL ROVE HAS DESIGNED ...

FOR IMPERIAL WASHINGTON ...

HAVING PETER PACE ...

DRESSED UP LIKE A MALE BALLERINA PORTRAYING A SOLDIER IN THE NUTCRACKER SUITE ...

OR SOMETHING ANYWAY ..

WHATEVER ...

I'LL SAY THAT THAT UNIFORM THAT KARL ROVE HAD DESIGNED ....

FOR BIG PETE PACE TO WEAR IN THE PRESENCE ....

OF GEORGE W. BUSH ...

WAS SIMPLY STUNNING ....

AND IT IS TO KARL ROVE'S CREDIT THAT IT BE SO ...

SINCE IT IS SAID ...

THAT KARL PERSONALLY SUPERVISED ....

THE TAILORING OF THAT VERY PRETTY UNIFORM ....

AND ESPECIALLY ...

THE MEASURING OF THE INSEAM .....

OF THE PANT'S LEG ...

WHICH IS ONE OF THE REAL KEY COMPONENTS .....

IN GETTING A MILITARY UNIFORM "JUST RIGHT AND SO" .....

KNOWING WHETHER THE PERSON WEARING IT ...

WILL "DRESS RIGHT" ....

OR "DRESS LEFT" ....

WHICH IS A VERY IMPORTANT FACTOR ....

IN THE PROPER FITTING OF SUCH A UNIFORM ...

AND SO ....

TRUST KARL ROVE TO KNOW THOSE ARCANE .....

AND ESOTERIC ...

BUT VERY IMPORTANT DETALS ....

And so ....

But look at me ...

I have digressed .....

AS A CORPORAL ....

A NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER ....

IN THE UNITED STATES MARINES ....

THIS JOSHUA BELILE DOES NOT SPEAK WITH HIS MOUTH ...

WHILE HE IS WEARING THOSE INSIGNIA OF RANK ...

ON THE UNIFORM ...

OF A UNITED STATES MARINE .....

HE IS IN FACT ...

THE "MOUTH" .....

OF THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ...

OF OUR UNITED STATES MILITARY ....

And so ...

WHEN THE MOUTH ...

OF THIS NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER ....

IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS ...

IS MOUTHING THESE "HADJI GIRL" LYRICS ABOVE HERE ......

HE IS DOING SO ....

AS A PART OF THE CHAIN OF COMMAND .....

IN OUR UNITED STATES MILITARY ....

THAT BEGINS .....

RIGHT AT THE DESK ...

OF MR. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH ...

RIGHT DOWN THERE ....

IN RAIN-SOAKED WASHINGTON. D.C. .....

And so ....

THERE IS MY PERSONAL ISSUE WITH THIS "HADJI GIRL MAH-RHEEN" ABOVE HERE ......

WHO HE IS SINGING THAT SONG ON BEHALF OF ...

WHICH IS OUR AMERICA ... ....

And so ....

As a military veteran myself ...

Who was twice-wounded in combat in Viet Nam ...

And who never was tolerant ...

As George W. Bush is ....

OF BIGOTRY ...

AND BLATANT DISCRIMINATION ...

AND HATE-MONGERING .....

AND ACTS OF GROSS PERVERSION ....

INVOLVING THE PRIVATE AREAS ....

OF THE BODIES ...

OF MEN IN IRAQ .....

AS WELL AS BLATANT ACTS OF COWARDICE .....

INVOLVING WOMEN AND GIRLS .....

BY UNIFORMED MEMBERS ....

OF THE MILITARY ...

OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ....

I WANT THE CANDID WORLD TO KNOW ...

THAT I PERSONALLY .....

FIND THIS CONDUCT ...

BY A NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER ....

IN OUR UNITED STATES MILITARY ...

TO BE REPREHENSIBLE .....

But since I am basically a nothing over here ...

I am powerless to stop this depravity .....

WHICH GEORGE W. BUSH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ...

AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF OUR MILITARY ....

And so .....

If you want to hate America ....

Because of people like George W. Bush ...

And this MARINE NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER .....

WHO SPEAKS WITH THE VOICE ...

OF GEORGE W. BUSH ...

WHILE HE IS IN UNIFORM ....

As a human being ....

Before I was ever an American ....

I WOULD SAY THAT YOU WERE JUSTIFIED ....

And rightly so ....

BUT PLEASE ...

LEAVE ME OUT OF YOUR RIGHTEOUS HATRED ....

FOR GEORGE W. BUSH ...

AND THIS MARINE NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER ...

WHO IS SPEAKING ABOVE HERE .....

ABOUT THIS "HADJI GIRL" .....

AS A PART OF THE CHAIN OF COMMAND OF GEORGE W. BUSH'S MILITARY ....

BECAUSE I AM NOT A PART OF ANY OF THAT ....

NOT BEING A REPUBLICAN, MYSELF .....

NOR A SUPPORTER OF GEORGE W. BUSH ....

OR THIS MARINE NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER ...

And so ....

[Livyjr]

In a military uniform .....

That is to be worn .....

In an IMPERIAL PAGEANT .....

By a SEVEN-STAR GENERAL ....

Like Peter Pace .....

INSEAMS .....

ARE WHERE IT'S AT .....

IF THE FIT .....

IS TO BE JUST RIGHT ...

And so .....

When it has to be just right ...

Don't trust it to anyone other than Karl Rove ....

And so .....

In the meantime ....

I heard the BUSHCO PRIME .....

Going APOPLECTIC on the radio ...

FOX NEWS FAIR AND BALANCED .....

OF COURSE .....

AND WHAT HE WAS SAYING ...

WITH ONE SIDE OF HIS MOUTH, ANYWAY .....

IS THAT THIS LATEST SECRET SPYING INTO PEOPLE'S LIVES ....

THAT GEORGE W. BUSH IS DOING .....

IS COMPLETELY LEGAL ....

AND THEN .....

WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF HIS MOUTH ...

GEORGE W. BUSH CONDEMNED THE NEW YORK TIMES ....

FOR LETTING PEOPLE KNOW .....

THAT GEORGE W. BUSH IS SNOOPING INTO PEOPLE'S LIVES ....

AND SO ....

IF IT'S LEGAL, GEORGE .....

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

AND SINCE YOU ARE MAKING A BIG DEAL OUT OF A MOLEHILL .....

WHAT REALLY IS GOING ON HERE?

WHAT IS IT THAT HE IS REALLY UP TO HERE, SNOOPING AROUND AS HE DOES, IN PEOPLE'S LIVES?

And so .....

"Bush condemns leak of terror finance info"

By TERENCE HUNT, Associated Press
Last updated: 6:57 p.m., Monday, June 26, 2006

WASHINGTON -- President Bush said Monday it was "disgraceful" that the news media had disclosed a secret CIA-Treasury program to track millions of financial records in search of terrorist suspects.

The White House accused The New York Times of breaking a long tradition of keeping wartime secrets.

"The fact that a newspaper disclosed it makes it harder to win this war on terror," Bush said, leaning forward and jabbing his finger during a brief question-and-answer session with reporters in the Roosevelt Room.

The Times has defended its effort, saying publication has served America's public interest.

The newspaper, along with the Los Angeles Times and the Wall Street Journal, revealed last week that Treasury officials, beginning shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, had obtained access to an extensive international financial data base -- the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, or Swift.

The New York Times late last year also disclosed that the National Security Agency had been conducting warrantless surveillance in the United States since 2002 of people with suspected al-Qaida ties.

"Some in the press, in particular The New York Times, have made the job of defending against further terrorist attacks more difficult by insisting on publishing detailed information about vital national security programs," Vice President Dick Cheney said in a speech at a political fundraising luncheon in Grand Island, Neb.

"The New York Times has now twice -- two separate occasions -- disclosed programs; both times they had been asked not to publish those stories by senior administration officials," Cheney said.

"They went ahead anyway."

"The leaks to The New York Times and the publishing of those leaks is very damaging."

Bill Keller, executive editor of the Times, defended the decision to publish the story.

He said the Times had spent weeks discussing with the administration whether to publish the report.

"Most Americans seem to support extraordinary measures in defense against this extraordinary threat, but some officials who have been involved in these programs have spoken to the Times about their discomfort over the legality of the government's actions and over the adequacy of oversight," Keller said in a note on the paper's Web site Sunday.

"We believe The Times and others in the press have served the public interest by accurately reporting on these programs so that the public can have an informed view of them," Keller wrote.

White House press secretary Tony Snow said the story represented "a highly unusual departure" from the practice of newspapers honoring the secrecy of sensitive matters during wartime.

"The New York Times and other news organizations ought to think long and hard about whether a public's right to know, in some cases, might overwrite somebody's right to live, and whether, in fact, the publications of these could place in jeopardy the safety of fellow Americans," Snow said.

Snow said the Times and other papers had made inquiries about the money-tracking program.

"But this was one where the New York Times clearly was leading and everybody waited until it posted its piece on line to do their own publications," Snow said.

Using broad government subpoenas, the money-tracking program allows U.S. counterterrorism analysts to obtain financial information from a vast database maintained by a company based in Belgium.

It routes about 11 million financial transactions daily among 7,800 banks and other financial institutions in 200 countries.

Some Democrats in Congress have said the program raises concerns about intrusions on privacy and was another step in an aggressive Bush administration expansion of executive-branch powers.

On the other side of the argument, Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, has urged the Justice Department to "begin an investigation and prosecution of the New York Times -- the reporters, the editors and the publisher."

Bush said Congress had been briefed on the program and "what we did was fully authorized under the law."

"And the disclosure of this program is disgraceful."

He said that Americans "expect this government to protect our constitutional liberties and, at the same time, make sure we understand what the terrorists are trying to do."

"The 9/11 Commission recommended that the government be robust in tracing money."

"If you want to figure out what the terrorists are doing, you try to follow their money."

"And that's exactly what we're doing. "

end quotes

IT'S HARD FOR YOU .....

TO WIN YOUR BOGUS WAR, GEORGE .....

NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING THAT THE NEW YORK TIMES DID ....

IT'S HARD FOR YOU .....

TO WIN YOUR BOGUS WAR ...

BECAUSE IT IS BOGUS!

PHONEY .....

AS A THREE-DOLLAR BILL ....

THE BOOGEYMAN ....

WHO IS ALWAYS OVER THE HILL .....

BUT ALWAYS SERVES ...

TO SCARE CHILDREN ...

WHO DON'T KNOW BETTER ...

JUST THE SAME ...

And so .....

And why is it ...

That every time we hear from Dick Cheney ......

He is out hitting people up for money .....

For the REPUBLICAN PARTY .....

INSTEAD OF DOING THE JOB THAT HE GETS PAID TO DO ....

WHICH IS TO FIGURE OUT ...

HOW TO GET OUR TROOPS OUT OF IRAQISTAN ....

AND TO KEEP THIS COUNTRY SAFE .....

And so ....

[Livyjr]

And why is it ...

That every time we hear from Dick Cheney ......

He is out hitting people up for money .....

For the REPUBLICAN PARTY .....

INSTEAD OF DOING THE JOB THAT HE GETS PAID TO DO ....

WHICH IS TO FIGURE OUT ...

HOW TO GET OUR TROOPS OUT OF IRAQISTAN ....

AND TO KEEP THIS COUNTRY SAFE .....

And that answer is easy ...

Dick's LOYALTY is not to America ...

It is to his pocket, and so ...

He stuffs it .....

Simple as that ...

Because to a REPUBLICAN ...

That is what you buy your public office for ....

In the first place ...

So that you can milk the bejaysus out of it ....

While you hold it ...

As Dick is demonstrating here ...

And so ....

And while we are on the subject of lawlessness in the White House ....

Down there in Washington, D.C. ....

Here's the head of that lawlessness now .....

And his name is George W. Bush ....

"Bush ignores laws he inks, vexing Congress"

By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer

39 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - A bill becomes the rule of the land when Congress passes it and the president signs it into law, right?

Not necessarily, according to the White House.

A law is not binding when a president issues a separate statement saying he reserves the right to revise, interpret or disregard it on national security and constitutional grounds.

That's the argument a Bush administration official is expected to make Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Arlen Specter, R-Pa., who has demanded a hearing on a practice he considers an example of the administration's abuse of power.

"It's a challenge to the plain language of the Constitution," Specter said in an interview with The Associated Press.

"I'm interested to hear from the administration just what research they've done to lead them to the conclusion that they can cherry-pick."

Apparently, enough to challenge many more statutes passed by Congress than any other president, Specter's committee says.

The White House does not dispute that, but notes that Bush is hardly the first chief executive to issue them.

"Signing statements have long been issued by presidents, dating back to Andrew Jackson all the way through President Clinton," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Monday.

Specter's hearing is about more than the statements.

He's been compiling a list of White House practices he bluntly says could amount to abuse of executive power — from warrantless domestic wiretapping program to sending officials to hearings who refuse to answer lawmakers' questions.

But the session also concerns countering any influence Bush's signing statements may have on court decisions regarding the new laws.

Courts can be expected to look to the legislature for intent, not the executive, said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas., a former state judge.

"There's less here than meets the eye," Cornyn said.

"The president is entitled to express his opinion."

"It's the courts that determine what the law is."

But Specter and his allies maintain that Bush is doing an end-run around the veto process.

In his presidency's sixth year, Bush has yet to issue a single veto that could be overridden with a two-thirds majority in each house.

Instead, he has issued hundreds of signing statements invoking his right to interpret or ignore laws on everything from whistleblower protections to how Congress oversees the Patriot Act.

"It means that the administration does not feel bound to enforce many new laws which Congress has passed," said David Golove, a New York University law professor who specializes in executive power issues.

"This raises profound rule of law concerns."

"Do we have a functioning code of federal laws?"

Signing statements don't carry the force of law, and other presidents have issued them for administrative reasons, such as instructing an agency how to put a certain law into effect.

They usually are inserted quietly into the federal record.

Bush's signing statement in March on Congress's renewal of the Patriot Act riled Specter and others who labored for months to craft a compromise between Senate and House versions, and what the White House wanted.

Reluctantly, the administration relented on its objections to new congressional oversight of the way the FBI searches for terrorists.

Bush signed the bill with much flag-waving fanfare.

Then he issued a signing statement asserting his right to bypass the oversight provisions in certain circumstances.

Specter isn't sure how much Congress can do to check the practice.

"We may figure out a way to tie it to the confirmation process or budgetary matters," he said.

end quotes

"Do we have a functioning code of federal laws?"

NOT UP HERE ....

IN REPUBLICAN GEORGE PATAKI'S ....

CORRUPT ...

REPUBLICAN ....

EMPIRE ....

OF NEW YORK WE DON'T .....

Maybe somewhere else ....

But not up here ....

And so .....

If anyone knows of some place ...

In the United States ....

Where there might still be ....

A functioning code of federal laws .....

You might want to let this professor above here ...

And the rest of us know ....

Before we all begin to believe ...

That we are living ...

In NAZI GERMANY ....

Or STALINIST RUSSIA ....

Or some other pestilential hell-hole ....

With a mean small man for its dictator ....

Instead of the United States ....

And so .....

[Livyjr]

And if you are in the BID-NESS ...

Of supplying ....

George W. Bush's "KILLING MACHINE" ....

Well ...

For you, anyway ...

BID-NESS IS REAL GOOD ....

BOOMING, in fact ....

And so ....

"Wars force Army equipment costs to triple"

By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer

1 hour, 36 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The annual cost of replacing, repairing and upgrading Army equipment in Iraq and Afghanistan is expected to more than triple next year to more than $17 billion, according to Army documents obtained by the Associated Press.

From 2002 to 2006, the Army spent an average of $4 billion a year in annual equipment costs.

But as the war takes a harder toll on the military, that number is projected to balloon to more than $12 billion for the federal budget year that starts next Oct. 1, the documents show.

The $17 billion also includes an additional $5 billion in equipment expenses that the Army requested in previous years but has not yet been provided.

The latest costs include the transfer of more than 1,200 2 1/2-ton trucks, nearly 1,100 Humvees and $8.8 million in other equipment from the U.S. Army to the Iraqi security forces.

Army and Marine Corps leaders are expected to testify before Congress Tuesday and outline the growing costs of the war — with estimates that it will cost between $12 billion and $13 billion a year for equipment repairs, upgrades and replacements from now on.

The Marine Corps has said in recent testimony before Congress that it would need nearly $12 billion to replace and repair all the equipment worn out or lost to combat in the past four years.

So far, the Marines have received $1.6 billion toward those costs to replace and repair the equipment.

According to the Army, the $17 billion includes:

_$2.1 billion in equipment that must be replaced because of battle losses.

_About $6.5 billion for repairs.

_About $8.4 billion to rebuild or upgrade equipment.

One of the growing costs is the replacement of Humvees, which are wearing out more quickly because of the added armor they are carrying to protect soldiers from roadside bombs.

The added weight is causing them to wear out faster, decreasing the life of the vehicles.

Congress has provided about $21 billion for equipment costs in emergency supplemental budget bills from 2002-06.

All the war equipment expenses have been funded through those emergency bills, and not in the regular fiscal-year budgets.

Pentagon officials have estimated that such emergency bills would have to continue two years beyond the time the U.S. pulls out of Iraq in order to fully replace, repair and rebuild all of the needed equipment.

The push for additional equipment funding comes after the House last week passed a $427 billion defense spending bill for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, which includes $50 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A separate $66 billion emergency funding bill for the two wars was approved earlier in the month.

War-related costs since 2001 are approaching half a trillion dollars.
___

On the Net:

Defense Department: http://www.defenselink.mil

end quotes

IF YOU ARE AN OLDER AMERICAN ....

AND YOU FIND YOURSELF STARVING ...

AND UNABLE TO HEAT YOUR HOME ...

BE PROUD!

GEORGE W. BUSH ...

AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ....

ARE SACRIFICING YOU ....

FOR THE GOOD ....

OF THE PARTY ...

And so ....

WHAT OTHER COUNTRY ....

IN THE WORLD ...

WOULD DO THAT FOR YOU, EH?

LOVE IT ...

IF YOU LIKE BEING SACRIFICED ....

OR LEAVE IT ...

FOR SOME OTHER MORE CIVILIZED PLACE ...

IF YOU DON'T .....

And so ...

Whoever said that life was not simple ....

Here in OUR America?

No shades of gray here ...

NO NUANCE ....

Just BLACK ....

Or WHITE ....

And so ....

[Livyjr]

IF YOU ARE AN OLDER AMERICAN ....

AND YOU FIND YOURSELF STARVING ...

AND UNABLE TO HEAT YOUR HOME ...

BE PROUD!

GEORGE W. BUSH ...

AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ....

ARE SACRIFICING YOU ....

FOR THE GOOD ....

OF THE PARTY ...

And so ....

WHAT OTHER COUNTRY ....

IN THE WORLD ...

WOULD DO THAT FOR YOU, EH?

LOVE IT ...

IF YOU LIKE BEING SACRIFICED ....

OR LEAVE IT ...

FOR SOME OTHER MORE CIVILIZED PLACE ...

IF YOU DON'T .....

And so ...

Whoever said that life was not simple ....

Here in OUR America?

No shades of gray here ...

NO NUANCE ....

Just BLACK ....

Or WHITE ....

And so ....

And speaking of a world ...

With NO NUANCE ....

Those .....

Who would ...

Take over the earth ....

And shape it ....

To their will ...

Never .....

I notice ....

Succeed ...

- Lao Tze, Tao Te Ching

No NUANCE, there, anyway ....

And so ....

[Livyjr]

And there is no nuance, here, either .....

Just wet feet ....

And heads ......

In a lot of places ....

All at once ....

And so ....

"More rain likely for soaked Northeast"

By STEPHEN MANNING, Associated Press
Last updated: 5:15 p.m., Tuesday, June 27, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Workers pumped water from the IRS headquarters' flooded basement Tuesday and mopped up at other government buildings Monday after heavy rain swamped the nation's capital.

A brief break from the two-day deluge gave crews a chance to reopen commuter routes and set up sandbags to prevent more water from getting inside buildings.

More than 7 inches of rain fell on the nation's capital in a 24-hour period Sunday and Monday, shutting down several federal buildings and closing some of the city's busiest tourist attractions just days before the Fourth of July weekend.

Forecasters warned that more rain is likely every day this week.

In downtown Washington, the Justice Department, the IRS and the National Archives -- where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were safe under glass -- were among several buildings still closed because of flooding or other storm-related problems.

Some streets were also shut down because water from the flooded buildings was being pumped into the city sewers.

None of the flooded buildings had structural damage, but water in the basements damaged air-conditioning, wiring and other building systems, said Mike McGill, a spokesman for the General Services Administration, which manages federal buildings.

Officials at the Justice Department said it could take a week to clean up and reopen the building.

The storm also toppled a 100-year-old elm tree on the White House lawn Monday.

Claudia Dickens, a spokeswoman for the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, said the elm might be one of the trees depicted on the back of the $20 bill.

But she said it is also possible that the artist and the engraver took artistic license in depicting the greenery at the White House.

Commuters and tourists slogged through the muddy aftermath.

With the continuing threat of flash flooding, government employees were given the option of taking a personal day.

Flood warnings and watches remained in effect Tuesday along the Eastern Seaboard, and the National Weather Service warned that some places could get up to 8 inches rain. T

That could be dangerous for soaked communities that already absorbed as much as 10 inches of rain Sunday and Monday.

In Pennsylvania, countless small streams and creeks overflowed their banks.

The weather service predicted severe flooding along the Philadelphia area's Schuylkill River by Wednesday afternoon.

In Alexandria, Va., officials urged residents and businesses to prepare for high water on the Potomac River.

Rescuers searched for an 8-year-old girl swept away by floodwaters in Alleghany County.

------

Associated Press writers Marty Niland and Derrill Holly in Washington contributed to this report.