I'm only through Nine Chapters, but Woodward's book "State of Denial",
deals with administration/Pentagon decisions in a more candid manner
than I have ever read.

I have come to deal with the inexperienced vision of the world
that President Bush brought to the White House.

I have actually gained empathy for Bush's mistakes, Rumsfeld's mistakes.

They had no clue and they made the mistake of turning to the American Enterprise Institute, a neo-con think tank in D.C., for a plan of war for the Middle East. They got: a suggestion that the hijackers from
Egypt and Saudi Arbabia, and the radicals in Iran were the worst problem,
but...Iraq was ..."weaker, more vunerable. DeMuth said they had concluded that "Baathism is an Arab form of fascism transplanted to Iraq."

So, instead of attacking terrorists cells with roots in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan - they went to the root- Afghanistan - a good decision - and Iraq -
a total disaster.

I've told so many people that Afghanistan was righteous, and Iraq stupid, that
my mouth is dry and my head is aching.

But, apparently the military that thought in the same vein was brushed-off.

Now I know that the military brass is pissed and the intel community is tired (of being the whipping boy). So, I'm chillin', I have new faith in the country, the
soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines, who walk a post.

Now I know our officers spoke the truth during the briefings. Sure, Bush-Rumsfeld
cherry-picked the Chief of Staff and ram-rodded Rumsfelds CEO approach to the
U.S. Armed Forces through the Pentagon, but some generals stood tall.

Therefore, if we add the understanding that several generals resigned to speak out and prove their love for their country (more than their retirement plans), we should be optimistic.

It was refreshing to read a newspaper man's, Bob Woodward's, hard
work interviewing dozens for hundreds of hours. You see, I was a PFC, professional reporter, photographer and editor, before being a deputy sheriff.

IMO, Woodward has done a service for America.
Seek the truth, and it will set you free. Or so I believe.

F*ck the blame, get our war planning back in the hands of combat commanders.
F*ck elections, whomever says this will impress me most.

Hard to understand? Well that's cause I'm a conservative Democrat.
(who still likes to believe he bleeds OD Green)

The first military coo in the US and the military justified!???????

Interesting...very interesting...

Well, I just got through reading the whole book and two things strike me about it.

Firstly, some of the detailed information presented as coming from key players in the Whitehouse means the cabinet and the staff of the Whitehouse must have mutinied. I'd think we would havy heard of it if Rice, Rove, Card, and quite a few more had mutinied against the president.

Secondly, several of the people statements or actions attributed to them have disavowed that is the way it happened.

I take this book for what it is, another cog in the effort by elitist to shape the government of the United States more to their liking

The goal is to sell books.. I'm on the Library waiting list. So I can't comment one way or the other. Doesn't sound like anything new.

What kills me more is that corupt congressman in San Diego that was given the free money out to some Pentagon contractors.

Blank party is to good for scum like this. I wouldn't mind one bit to see these guys shuttled off to some unnamed CIA camp in Romania or Cambodia.

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/060917/25mzm.htm

Capitol Crooks
It started with the bribery indictment of California Rep. Randall "Duke" Cunningham, but before it's over, a sprawling investigation into a Pentagon contractor called MZM could snare some of Washington's most powerful inside players
By Chitra Ragavan

Posted Sunday, September 17, 2006

In the fall of 2003, an influential Washington defense contractor named Mitchell Wade was shooting the bull with Haig Melkessetian, a senior executive in his company, at their elegant office not far from the White House. "Haig," Wade declared, "I have a good deal for us."

The contractor enthusiastically laid out his plan: His good friend, Randall "Duke" Cunningham, a decorated Vietnam War fighter pilot, was planning to lead a congressional delegation to Saudi Arabia on a mission to help Saudi officials improve their image in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Melkessetian, a former Army Special Forces soldier and Arabic linguist, was taken aback. "I can't be on both sides of the fence," he told Wade, noting that their company, MZM Inc., was heavily involved in major counterterrorism projects with the Defense Department.

"Don't start that ideological crap with me," Wade snapped, according to Melkessetian's account. "I'm not here for ideology. I'm here to make money."

And make money he did-a cool $150 million in government contracts since 2002. But Wade's road to riches was one that would ultimately lead him to jail and ignominy, and, along the way, to a prison term for one lawmaker and still more criminal charges, in the next few days or weeks, against some of the most influential insiders in the nation's capital. Melkessetian, now a consultant for a U.S. intelligence agency, is helping federal prosecutors in a massive corruption investigation involving Wade, MZM, and Cunningham. The former eight-term Republican congressman from California pleaded guilty last November to accepting more than $2.4 million in bribes and favors from Wade; his mentor, Brent Wilkes, a San Diego-based defense contractor; and two other "unindicted coconspirators."

"A huge spider web." Cunningham "earmarked" millions of dollars in defense projects for Wade and Wilkes in a manner so brazen federal prosecutors called it "unparalleled" in the long, sordid history of congressional corruption. Cunningham now is serving an eight-year prison term, while Wade, 46, has pleaded guilty to paying Cunningham more than $1 million in bribes and is cooperating with prosecutors. Wade's sentencing has been postponed until next March. He faces a maximum prison term of 135 months. He declined to be interviewed for this account, as did his attorneys.

Prosecutors are using information from Melkessetian and his MZM colleagues to test Wade's veracity, to track cash or other assets he may be hiding, and to recommend the length of his prison sentence. The MZM employees have told investigators that they were unaware of Wade's corrupt acts, but as Melkessetian puts it, they suspected he was "up to no good."

Today, the FBI, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Defense Security Service are working with prosecutors to put the finishing touches on indictments against several other defense contractors, and senior defense and intelligence officials, who helped Wade with his corrupt activities. "We have been looking at everybody that's involved," says a federal law enforcement official. "Anytime you talk about defense contracting, it's a huge spider web."

Although Wilkes has not been charged, the government alleges that he gave more than $630,000 in bribes, gifts, and favors to Cunningham, and investigators now are trying to determine whether he obtained federal contracts through a high school buddy, Kyle "Dusty" Foggo, the former No.3 official at the CIA. Foggo resigned in May. His attorney has said that Foggo broke no laws. Investigators are also probing whether Wilkes provided limo services, hotel suites, and prostitutes to Cunningham. Wilkes is not cooperating with investigators. "Every single allegation is false, will be fought, and my client will be vindicated," says his attorney, Nancy Luque.