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“Outposts of Tyranny”
Yesterday, Dr Rice unveiled the new marketing name for the bad guys: they are, ta-dam, the “outposts of tyranny” and they include, alongside old-timers North Korea and Iran, 4 newbies: Cuba, Burma, Belarus and Zimbabwe. Didn’t she forget someone?
(and no, it’s not Syria, Pakistan, Uzbekistan)
Bush: (WaPo interview, 15 January 2005)
Well, we had an accountability moment, and that’s called the 2004 election. And the American people listened to different assessments made about what was taking place in Iraq, and they looked at the two candidates, and chose me
UK soldiers abused Iraqi detainees, court told (FT)
The British military has launched more than 100 investigations into the deaths and injuries of Iraqis in incidents that range from combat to detention to road accidents.
Evidence from major who gave order to ‘work them hard’ (Daily Telegraph (UK)
A courts martial of three soldiers, which has already seen shocking pictures of apparent Iraqi abuse, is set to hear from the man who allegedly gave the orders. Major Dan Taylor, of the 1 Bn The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers is to give evidence at the "Operation Ali Baba” courts martial in Osnabruck, Germany. He is alleged to have unlawfully ordered his soldiers to punish Iraqi civilians by "working them hard”.
Gonzales Says ’02 Policy on Detainees Doesn’t Bind C.I.A. (NYT, regarding "torture" policy)
Officers of the Central Intelligence Agency and other nonmilitary personnel fall outside the bounds of a 2002 directive issued by President Bush that pledged the humane treatment of prisoners in American custody, Alberto R. Gonzales, the White House counsel, said in documents released on Tuesday. In written responses to questions posed by senators as part of his confirmation for attorney general, Mr. Gonzales also said a separate Congressional ban on cruel, unusual and inhumane treatment had "a limited reach" and did not apply in all cases to "aliens overseas." That position has clear implications for prisoners held in American custody at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and in Iraq, legal analysts said.
Bush and Clinton told Congress Saddam was smuggling oil (FT)
The Clinton and Bush administrations not only knew but told the US Congress that Iraq was smuggling oil to Turkey and Jordan, and in both cases recommended continuing military and financial aid to countries seen as important allies. (…) … two letters sent by the State Department to Congress in 1998 and 2002 clearly show that successive US administrations knew of sanctions-busting and turned a blind eye to it. Some US lawmakers are now demanding that the US also hold itself to account for those decisions and not shift all the blame to the UN.
It must be wonderful to have that kind of self-righteousness, of moral clarity, of sense of destiny. Where could I get myself one of these? How do I get rid of my wimpy doubts? Of my morally flawed conscience? Of my betraying lust for understanding and compromise? Please help!
Caught the first few minutes of Rice-a-Roni this morning.
Shorter Chris Dodd: “Please discuss the outsourcing of torture to third countries.”
Shorter Condi: “We don’t do that. And considerations of Security preclude me from discussing in open session what I just said we don’t do”.
As we prepare to celebrate the fuhr… er, the president-reselect:
The nation’s 55th inaugural celebration began yesterday amid cold and blustery weather, with a salute to the military past and present, a private reception for deep-pocketed supporters of President Bush and a youth event at the D.C. Armory hosted by the president’s twin daughters and featuring teen-centric entertainers and a call to service for the country’s youth.
Ah, yes. Recruiting for the, well, you know. Don’t make me say it.
The forecast was welcome news to Stephen E. Sanders, who designs and sell fur coats. He had a booth set up at the Texas Fair & Market Place, part of the Texas State Society’s inaugural activities at the Wardman Park Marriott Hotel. He was selling everything from rabbit scarves for $99 to a golden Russian sable coat with a price tag of $75,000.
“You are going to see a lot of fur coats,” and not just because of the weather, he said. “This is a crowd that likes furs and wears them.”
How dost thee celebrate the “culture of life”? Let me count the ways, beginning with anal-probe electrocution.
Yesterday, the Secret Service, overseeing security for official inaugural events, cleared up its edict on crosses being included on a list of banned items, which had outraged some religious groups. Secret Service officials said they meant to ban only large cross “structures,” not crosses worn by individuals.
Today’s newspeak syllogism: “Cross Structures” are to Crosses as “WMD Program-Related Activities” are to…
Police closed streets around MCI Center to motor vehicles for the tribute, which lasted more than two hours. Those who attended were treated to a red, white and blue spectacle that wrapped President Bush in a warm mantle of support from the military.
Among them were 60 recuperating soldiers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center. “You watch the kids coming in here from Water Reed right now; they’re missing arms and legs. That’s what this is all about,” said Kurt Beckenhauer, museum program assistant with the Coast Guard, who watched as security guards ran metal detector wands over decorated war veterans.
Prosthetics of Mass Destruction?
Not to worry, though:
Missiles Deployed For Inauguration
The military has deployed anti-aircraft missiles within range of the Capitol as part of security enhancements for tomorrow’s presidential inauguration.
The missile deployment comes even though the FBI and Homeland Security Department concluded in a recent threat assessment that there is no credible information showing that terrorists have targeted inaugural events.
Army Avenger missile systems, a Humvee-mounted version of the Stinger anti-aircraft missile, were deployed in the weekend at several locations in the Washington area, including the northern tip of Bolling Air Force Base in Southeast.
“It is a NORAD deployment,” said Army Maj. Maria Quon, a spokeswoman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command, the joint U.S.-Canadian defense system developed during the Cold War.
Maj. Quon said that in addition to the Avengers, military and security agencies have deployed F-16, F-15 and support aircraft and radar and communications systems.
The combat jets are flying round-the-clock patrols to deal with any aircraft threats to tomorrow’s ceremonies. Additionally, the Air Force is flying E-3 airborne warning and control aircraft that are conducting surveillance missions and would help guide interceptor jets to targets.
The Avengers and other weapons are part of an “interagency multilayered air defense of the national capital region,” Maj. Quon said. She declined to comment on the locations of the weapons and equipment.
However, past deployments included Fort Lesley J. McNair in Southwest and the grounds of the Pentagon.
The Stinger missiles could be used against any aircraft that attempts to attack or strays into restricted airspace over the Washington area.
A seven-page Jan. 11 threat assessment concluded that “at this time, there is no credible information indicating that domestic or international terrorist groups are targeting the inauguration.”
Sooo… let’s see if I have this straight. PBD says “Bin Laden determined to attack inside US”. Response: Go on vacation. “no credible information indicating that domestic or international terrorist groups are targeting the inauguration”. Response: THREATCON DELTA!!!
“I do not avoid women, Mandrake. But I do deny them my essence”.
Posted by: OkieByAccident | Jan 19 2005 16:37 utc | 8
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