i saw charlie rose tonight btw. those soldiers were tough on rummy

Posted by: annie | Nov 11 2006 9:17 utc | 4

Intereting perspective of the likely development when all the subpoenas will arrive at the White House: The Subpoena wars.

Here’s how a constitutional collision could unfold. After the new Congress begins in January, Chairman Conyers sends letters to the Justice Department and the White House counsel demanding secret documents that cast light on the scope and mechanics of the snooping. The questions might include whether Bush obstructed justice when he denied the security clearances that the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility needed to investigate the program.
True to form, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Bush ignore the letters. Conyers responds by issuing subpoenas for documents and testimony. Gonzales then insists that the documents are protected by executive privilege. The Judiciary Committee, followed by the full House, votes to hold Gonzales in contempt of Congress–a federal crime with a punishment of up to a year in prison. After Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House, certifies the contempt citation, she then forwards it along to the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, demanding that he haul Gonzales before a grand jury.
What happens next? The U.S. attorney might well ignore the request, leading House Democrats to sue in federal court for an order mandating the prosecution of Gonzales.
…
Regardless of how the Supreme Court ruled in Conyers v. Gonzales, there would be subsidiary legal battles raging for months as the contempt case made its way up to the Supreme Court. Democrats and Republicans would fight about whether to force Gonzales to testify by granting him the necessary immunity–immunity grants require a two-thirds vote by the relevant committee–and the scope of his immunity might provoke lawsuits of its own. All these fires would be raging from a single investigation into the NSA scandal. At the same time, a series of related battles and lawsuits might be erupting from parallel investigations into Iraq war intelligence, Halliburton cronyism, and the misuse of presidential signing statements.
…

Posted by: b | Nov 11 2006 11:17 utc | 6

Our Current Agenda

Isolating the Hamas-Led Palestinian Government
The Palestinian Authority (PA), which has never complied with its obligation to end violence against Israel, is now in the hands of Hamas, a group listed on the United States’ roster of terrorist groups. Hamas has killed hundreds of Israelis and a number of Americans, and it has refused to renounce violence or accept Israel’s right to exist since taking over the Palestinian government. In response, AIPAC is backing the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act, which would limit American aid to the PA until Hamas gives up terrorism, recognizes Israel and accepts previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements. Exceptions would be made for humanitarian assistance.
Stopping Iran From Acquiring Nuclear Weapons
While previous legislation supported by AIPAC has slowed Iran’s quest for nuclear arms and the missiles to deliver them, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirms that Tehran is moving forward with its illicit nuclear program. Through such legislation as the Iran Freedom Support Act, AIPAC is working with Congress to extend and strengthen existing sanctions on Tehran in an attempt to choke off funds it could use to build atomic bombs.
Standing By Israel to Ensure the Security of the Only Democracy in the Middle East
America must continue to stand by Israel’s side politically, diplomatically and economically. Not only is U.S. aid needed to maintain Israel’s security during this dangerous and challenging time in the country’s history, but aid to Israel supports a reliable, front-line ally in our joint battle against weapons proliferation and terrorism. AIPAC engages Congress to support Israel.
Defending Israel Against Tomorrow’s Threats
In future wars, Israel will face the specter of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons delivered by long-range missiles, threats for which no defense yet exists. The costs of developing new systems to keep Israel safe in the next century will be considerable — and American support, critical. AIPAC works with Congress to increase military assistance to Israel and to strengthen cooperative defense programs to counter these emerging threats.
Preparing the Next Generation of Pro-Israel Leaders
The challenges for today’s students are enormous — fewer Jewish youth than ever identify with Israel, average student turnout in recent elections is only 25 percent and anti-Israel activity on campus is rising. AIPAC trains and educates pro-Israel students across America and develops their leadership skills so that they become effective citizen lobbyists today and pro-Israel leaders tomorrow.
Educating Congress About the U.S.-Israel Relationship
Two-thirds of the House has been elected during this past decade, one in every three senators is in his or her first term and more than 2,000 candidates likely will run for federal office in the next two years. AIPAC educates all of them about the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship. To complete this task, we must expand our unparalleled network of activists by traveling to communities both large and small in all 50 states.

Is this the new Demoplican Agenda?
Thanks to Karen Kwiatkowski for the link.

Posted by: John Francis Lee | Nov 11 2006 13:42 utc | 8

@JFL #8
Israel minister in Iran warning

Israel’s deputy defence minister has suggested that Israel could launch a military strike against Iran’s nuclear programme as a “last resort”.

Posted by: Uncle $cam | Nov 11 2006 17:31 utc | 10

impeachment poll
i like those numbers

Posted by: annie | Nov 11 2006 18:10 utc | 12

Cheney has been living on borrowed time and has little to lose. He can pre-empt the replacement threat by acting quickly and leaking all sorts of dirt on W, Rove and 41’s geezers. Maybe he even has access to someone with the capacity for extreme predjudice. The idea of being president, even for a day, might be too tempting.
As for Bush’s ‘Loser’ role- It will be fascinating to see him morph from Nixon to Carter in the media. Maybe he’ll wear sweaters and start waxing philosophically about malaise.

Posted by: biklett | Nov 11 2006 18:36 utc | 14

The original complaint dates from 2004.
January 2005
The American human rights organisation Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and four Iraqis who were tortured by American military personnel in Iraq have brought legal proceedings in Germany against Rumsfeld. Also named are former CIA Director George Tenet; the deputy secretary for the intelligence at the US Defence Department, Stephen Cambone; and US generals Robert Sanchez, Walter Wojdakowski, Geoffrey Miller and Janis Karpinski; as well as military officers Jerry Phillabaum, Thomas Pappas and Stephen Jordan. All are charged with war crimes.
link
January 2005
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld cancelled a planned visit to Germany after a US human rights organisation asked German authorities to prosecute him for war crimes, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) has learned.
al jazeera
February 2005.
Below is a translation into English of the decision by the Prosecutor in Germany to dismiss the complaint against Rumsfeld …..
link
February 2006
In New York, on February 27, 2006, Human Rights groups submitted a complaint to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, claiming that the German Federal Prosecutor’s dismissal of a torture case which was filed by Iraqi citizens against Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and others was dismissed for political reasons. The complaint was submitted to Mr. Leandro Despouy, on behalf of Iraqi citizens who were victims of torture and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment when detained by the United States military in Abu Ghraib prison and other detention facilities centers in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was filed jointly by Wolfgang Kaleck from the Republican Attorneys’ Association (RAV) in Germany, the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and Lawyers Against the War (LAW) in Canada.
link
November 2006
The complaint will be brought on behalf of 12 people — 11 Iraqi citizens who were held at Abu Ghraib prison and one Guantanamo detainee. It is being filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights, the International Federation for Human Rights, the Republican Attorneys’ Association and others, all represented by Berlin Attorney Wolfgang Kaleck.
link (scroll down)
“The complaint is related to a 2004 complaint that was dismissed, but the new complaint is filed with substantial new evidence, new defendants and plaintiffs, a new German federal prosecutor and, most important, under new circumstances that include the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld as secretary of defence and the passage of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 in the US granting officials retroactive immunity from prosecution for war crimes,” said the centre in a statement.
link

Posted by: Noirette | Nov 11 2006 19:09 utc | 16

JFL- in a reasonable world, ppl here should be able to hear both sides of the issue in a way that presents facts and not just fears.
People need to accept that Israel needs “prompting” from the U.S. to stop what they’ve been doing…like not funding the destruction of the Palestinians, and by acknowledging they have a legitimate grievance that needs to be address via the entire world joining to support a solution and peace.
One huge issue to overcome in the U.S. is the fundie alignment with Israel because of their desire for the end of this world (tho they say this alignment puts them on “god’s team.”) I say this because, tho aipac is powerful, the fundie christians have a stake that’s just as much of a voter issue.
But among people in the region, another huge issue is accepting that Israel exists. Until that’s part of the overall view, no peace will occur, like it or not.
Peace has to be more worthwhile than war for all sides. Forgiveness, too. Mandela was a good example for this sort of healing.

Posted by: fauxreal | Nov 11 2006 19:27 utc | 18

………….. Israel exists.hehehe
give it a few more year, then it won’t exist.

Posted by: Anonymous | Nov 11 2006 19:48 utc | 20

Wow, Conchita – I’ve neither seen nor heard anything about this. Incredibly sad. And it makes me angry, too. Angry that the true madness, terror and destruction we are perpetrating in Iraq is viewed by the press and by most people so antiseptically, it pushed this guy to this extreme to try to get people to wake up.

Posted by: Maxcrat | Nov 12 2006 3:17 utc | 22

Fo’real :

People need to accept that Israel needs “prompting” from the U.S. to stop what they’ve been doing…like not funding the destruction of the Palestinians, and by acknowledging they have a legitimate grievance that needs to be address via the entire world joining to support a solution and peace.

That’d do the trick as far as I can see.

One huge issue to overcome in the U.S. is the fundie alignment with Israel because of their desire for the end of this world (tho they say this alignment puts them on “god’s team.”) I say this because, tho aipac is powerful, the fundie christians have a stake that’s just as much of a voter issue.

The “fundie Xtians” are no more than a smokescreen conjured to cover the naked greed of the military-industrial component of the war’s proponents, in my opinion. The far-right in Israel is just one third, the most articulate third, of the war-oil-likudnik triangle of greed labelled “the neocons”. Do you really believe there are more than two or three lunatics who take all this “end of the world” nonsense seriously? Certainly people are fearful and insecure and easily stampeded… and Xtianity is frequently the goad of unreasonable fear in America, as Islam is in other countries… but those who manipulate these poor souls just use whatever “handle” is “handy”. No one really believes this nonsense.

But among people in the region, another huge issue is accepting that Israel exists. Until that’s part of the overall view, no peace will occur, like it or not.

I don’t imagine that the Palestinian people are interested in Israel or the Israelis outside of their oppressive dimension, which they are forced to deal with every day. If the Israelis were to stop murdering the Palestinians, to stop stealing their land and water, to stop oppressing them every day in every way in their own land, if “the entire world” joined to support a solution and peace for the Palestinians in what’s left of Palestine, there would be no more Palestinian thoughts wasted on Israel at all.

Peace has to be more worthwhile than war for all sides.

Peace is more worthwhile than war for all sides… except for the “side” in America and Israel that makes money from war. The only way they can be reined in is by cutting off the money that makes their wars profitable. The only way the money can be cut off is by our beating the hands of the AIPAC’s minions off of the treasury spigot in the USA.

Forgiveness, too. Mandela was a good example for this sort of healing.

This will come in years, in decades, I don’t know how long, but it will come. Faster than we imagine once the Israel boot is removed from the Palestinian neck.
I don’t think we disagree at all. I just don’t see the need for equivocation. The other side has now, has had for decades, and it seems that it will have for the foreseeable future, control of the media on this issue. My lone voice is not going to change that. But it will be raised at every opportunity to point out the reality of the situation : Israel and the USA are wrong in the Middle East. The Palestinians and the Iraqi people are right. There will be no peace until our policies are no longer founded upon this basic injustice.

Posted by: John Francis Lee | Nov 12 2006 4:10 utc | 24

give it a few more year, then it[Israel] won’t exist.
Didn’t Barflies read this week’s post-election Paul Craig Roberts article I linked? Do, if you haven’t. Excellent as always. He says that smart Israelis are sending their children away. And while Wayne Madsen & others have written about Mossad stirring up MaleMuslim unrest in France w/help of Sarkozy supposedly to benefit his election. The Main Reason for doing it is to engrave in the minds of Israeli Professionals that Europe is extremely anti-semitic to keep them from moving back.
That’s really just a slightly new twist to an old theme for Israel – they populated the nation to begin w/ by bombing Jewish communities throughout the Arab world & blaming it on local anti-semitism to drive Jews into Israel to give them a sufficient population to fight early wars against Arabs.

Posted by: jj | Nov 12 2006 4:44 utc | 26

I’ve been wondering about that aspect for a while now.
starring up at the ceiling lol

Posted by: annie | Nov 12 2006 4:55 utc | 28

Do any Barflies know anything about this site? They’re posting this:
Washington, D.C.,: “ My brother-in-law is a professional military officer, stationed in the Washington area and from him I learned over lunch today that Israel has finally determined to launch what they consider to be a preemptive military strike against Iran’s capacity to manufacture and, most especially, to deliver an atomic weapon against Israel.
I was told that Israel is desolated by the neutering of Bush’s ability to support this attack.
Congress is now seen as a block to Bush’s militant plans and so the decision is being formulated not only in Tel Aviv but also in Washington to “materially assist” an Israeli attack with satellite intelligence, very sophisticated weaponry and high level intelligence sharing.
American troops are not to be involved but Bush and Cheney are planning to do everything possible to “actively support” this action.
This sort of story has been circulating around the corridors of power here for years but now, I am firmly assured, it appears to be reality. Israel attacked once before on this sort of provocation and is now going to do it again. We have agreed to supply certain tactical nuclear rocketry capable of being launched from aircraft that have a miniature atomic warhead, capable of extensive localized damage.
Since Israel is in no position to launch a ground invasion, the aim is to so disrupt both the government in Tehran and the suspected areas where any possible missiles could be launched against Tel Aviv in the possibility of an Iranian attack against Israel when a fanatic supporter of Israeli ambitions like Bush is not in office.
Another reason to dump Rumbo before Olmert’s visit to DC & isolate & possibly dump Cheney quickly. Whatever Israeli fanatics may want, I’d bet on BushDaddy’s Boys undermining it every possible way. Though putting Lieberboy in as Head of Homeland Security is extremely Dangerous…esp. w/Mossad being given the green light to operate on our soil. Consider the information that can be passed to them via his committee – and what the staff appointments will look like.

Posted by: jj | Nov 12 2006 5:12 utc | 30

From Arnaud de Borchgrave, of all people:

The prospect of a Palestinian state in the foreseeable future looked even dimmer with the creation of a newly formed evangelical Christian organization in the U.S. that aims to include all pro-Israel Christians and, according to its founder, will soon make it the single most powerful Christian organization in America.
“We are a one-issue organization – and the issue is Israel, Israel and then Israel,” Pastor John Hagee told the Jerusalem Post from his headquarters in San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Hagee, 66, is president and CEO of Global Evangelical Television, which is broadcast to over 90 million homes in the U.S.
The group’s main focus, according to Ha’aretz, is to lobby the U.S. government on Israel-related issues.
. . . A Pew Foundation poll shows 53 percent of Americans believe God gave Israel to the Jews. And 59 percent, according to a CNN/Time survey, agree that paradise for Christians can only be achieved once Jews are in control of the Holy Land (which includes Palestine).
. . .Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the mullahocracy do not have a monopoly on the conviction that Allah/God has decreed a clash of civilizations. Peace between Israel and a “viable and contiguous” Palestinian state is not part of the celestial narrative on either side.

What does it mean that those on the right publish such comments?

Posted by: small coke | Nov 12 2006 6:41 utc | 32

@Unca $cam
Are you sending out mailings to Republican trolls? It looks like Krauthammer got a copy of your link to the “Ratchet Effect”:
Only a Minor Earthquake
By Charles Krauthammer

This is not realignment. As has been the case for decades, American politics continues to be fought between the 40-yard lines. The Europeans fight goal line to goal line, from socialist left to the ultranationalist right. On the American political spectrum, these extremes are negligible. American elections are fought on much narrower ideological grounds. In this election, the Democrats carried the ball from their own 45-yard line to the Republican 45-yard line.
The fact that the Democrats crossed midfield does not make this election a great anti-conservative swing. Republican losses included a massacre of moderate Republicans in the Northeast and Midwest. And Democratic gains included the addition of many conservative Democrats, brilliantly recruited by Rep. Rahm Emanuel with classic Clintonian triangulation. Hence Heath Shuler of North Carolina, anti-abortion, pro-gun, anti-tax — and now a Democratic congressman.
The result is that both parties have moved to the right. The Republicans have shed the last vestiges of their centrist past, the Rockefeller Republican. And the Democrats have widened their tent to bring in a new crop of blue-dog conservatives.

Posted by: Monolycus | Nov 12 2006 7:56 utc | 34

Rahm’s Losers

Looking at all 22 candidates hand-picked by Rahm, we find that 13 were defeated, and only 8 won!* (One is still undecided.) And remember that this was the year of the Democratic tsunami and that Rahm’s favorites were handsomely financed by the DCCC. Tammy Duckworth, for example, was infused with $3 million ­ and was backed in the primary by HRC, Barack Obama, John Kerry, etc. The Dems have picked up 28 seats so far, maybe more. So out of that 28, Rahm’s choices accounted for 8!… In fact, Rahm’s efforts were probably counterproductive for the Dems since the great majority of voters were antiwar and they were voting primarily on the issue of the war (60% according to CNN). But Rahm’s candidates were not antiwar.
Either Emanuel is completely incompetent or else Emanuel is putting the interests of Israel ahead of Democratic victories. You decide. In either case why would he remain in a position of influence in the Dem party? A good question.
* Rahm’s Losers: Darcy Burner (WA), Phyllis Busansky (FL), Francine Busby (CA), John Cranley (OH), Jill Derby (NV), Tammy Duckworth (IL), Diane Farrell (CT), Steve Filson (CA), Tessa Hafen (NV), Mary Jo Kilroy (OH), Ken Lucas (KY), Patsy Madrid (NM), Lois Murphy (PA). Winners: Brad Ellsworth (IN), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Baron Hill (IN), Ron Klein (FL), Harry Mitchell (AZ), Chris Murphy (CT), Heath Shuler (NC), Peter Welch, who was apparently antiwar (VT). Undecided: Joe Courtney (CT).

Posted by: John Francis Lee | Nov 12 2006 9:53 utc | 36

@ conchita & Maxcrat (21/22):
Malachi Richter’s Mission Statement was posted here last Wednesday by dk.

Posted by: beq | Nov 12 2006 13:53 utc | 38

Gideon Levy: No one is guilty in Israel

No one is guilty in Israel. There is never anyone guilty in Israel. The prime minister who is responsible for the brutal policy toward the Palestinians, the defense minister who knew about and approved the bombardments, the chief of staff, the chief of command and the commander of the division who gave the orders to bombard – not one of them is guilty. They will continue with the work of killing as though nothing has happened: The sun shone, the system flourished and the ritual slaughterer slaughtered. They will continue to pursue the routine of their daily lives, accepted in society like anyone else, and remain in their posts despite the blood on their hands.
A few hours after the disaster, while the Gaza Strip was still enveloped in sorrow and deep in shock, the air force was already hastening to carry out another targeted killing, an arrogant demonstration of just how much this disaster does not concern us.
…
The heedless and arrogant reaction to such deeds contains a dangerous moral message. If it is possible to dismiss mass killing with a wealth of technical excuses, and not take any drastic measure against those who are truly guilty of it, then Israel is saying that, as far as it is concerned, nothing happened apart from the faulty component in the radar system or the glitch in balancing the sights. But what happened at Beit Hanun, what happened in Israel on the day after and what is continuing to happen in Gaza day after day is a far more frightening distortion than the calibrating of a gun sight.

Posted by: b | Nov 12 2006 15:46 utc | 40

Right on cue… there’s a sabre-rattling response to the “enemy” (who were also right on cue). After seeing their footwork here, I’ve got to concede that the team of George the Younger and His Shadow are making a good showing in the Ballroom Dance of Death semifinals.
(The cheesey thing for me to do here to finish that paragraph would be to link to some YouTube footage of Billy Idol’s angsty Dancing With Myself… ain’t gonna happen.)
One comment in this “response” is worth noting, however:

“Whatever your opinion of the outcome, all Americans can take pride in the example our democracy sets for the world by holding elections even in a time of war,” Bush said.

Implying what, precisely? That it is only through the beneficence of Caesar that the USA was permitted to hold an election? And which war would this be, precisely? Despite the fact that the Commander-In-Chief fancies himself the “War President”, I don’t recall hearing about any formal congressional declarations to that effect. This is either an implicit threat to the peoples of the USA, or he is bragging to the rest of the world that we somehow, against all odds, managed to do the same thing we’ve done for the past 230 years.

Posted by: Monolycus | Nov 12 2006 17:09 utc | 42

Going way back to Anna (#2) – funny – I was just voicing the same opinion on the possibility of Cheney having “Pump Head” to my husband. It would make sense. The profound change in personality and some effect on cognition. He has been on the pump at least twice if my memory serves. Still — it may be best as others have noted, to keep him impaired but in office, guarded by the senior Bush guard (Baker et al) than for him to resign and have McCain or others benefit from the power of the Vice Presidency before a run for President in 2008. Cheney is crippled and being watched as is Bush. Better a lame, weakened foe than giving energy to other possible strong contenders. We also want to further diminish and cripple their party over the next two years by having the ineffective leadership in place. Just my thoughts.

Posted by: Elie | Nov 12 2006 18:03 utc | 44

Israel would not exist without US – uk (and Western) support. Israel is run by the military, meaning the military and political class are indistinguishable, and as in many third world countries, the criminal class – speaking loosely here – has risen and risen, as they need the payments to conserve power and keep control. (The original project for Israel is a dirty tattered flag…) They are neo-cons who can keep a decent mask to their face, hiding behind a mythical civilisational conflict, their aggression always excused by existential or real attacks. To maintain that position and behavior, they require mountains of cash and arms and the illusion of manipulation and influence.
Contrary to Nigeria, or Saudi Arabia, where the power relations are clear, Israel is in a very tricky position – it has no black gold, no water, no mineral resources or very few, crappy agriculture (no arable land…), large numbers of poor non-workers, and very recently, despite its huge cost to the Western community, its Army has proved disappointing, its Gvmt. shrill and misguided, poor at spin, not quite up to standard?
Israel’s value is virtual, spiritual one might say, it represents a long-term bid for the future. It is tiny sliver of dusty gravel, smaller than N Jersey, without the greenery, fed by tankers chugging in night and day, filled with free loaders and hysterical paranoids as well as 25% of discriminated citizens who struggle and mutter – Arabs.
Not that they didn’t deserve help.

Posted by: Noirette | Nov 12 2006 19:22 utc | 46

Heh!
Barbed wire, dust, rhododendrons and pools for the rich immigrants…Pals working as bar tenders, maids, whores.
Tel Aviv with Benetton stores, champagne cocktails, cars blaring, fin de monde cynicism, coupled with hush hush advice and conspiracy secrets, a girl, a young one? Kebab. Salad. Smoke, sand, grit. Ari, from the Army. Nice boy. The Americans will pay. Drrring goes the cell phone.
You gotta use what you got. An international footprint. Boot print. Hope.

Posted by: Noirette | Nov 12 2006 20:11 utc | 48

Lebanon cabinet ‘not legitimate'”

Pro-Syrian Lebanese President Emile Lahoud has said the government has lost its legitimacy after a series of ministerial resignations.
He said any cabinet meeting now would be worthless and anti-constitutional.
Ministers from Hezbollah and other pro-Syrian Shia Muslim groups resigned on Saturday.
The government is due to discuss a draft UN document on a tribunal for those suspected of killing anti-Syrian former PM Rafik Hariri last year.
Tension in Lebanon has been building since this summer’s conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, and ahead of the formation of the tribunal.
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, who is part of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority, has refused to accept the ministers’ resignations.
Hezbollah, which had been demanding a more powerful role in the government, has said it will not retract them.
It has threatened to hold mass protests unless its demands for more cabinet seats are met. In multi-party talks, Hezbollah had asked for cabinet seats that would give it and its allies the power of veto but the majority group in parliament refused.

Posted by: annie | Nov 12 2006 22:25 utc | 50

annie:
That seems very important. One of the most devastating of the US/Israeli Weapons of Monetary Devastation has been the cabal’s ability to decide who qualifies for aid of all sorts, not just that controlled by governments.
Is money donated to Israel tax-deductable in the US?
Do donations to the Palestinians buy you a one-way ticket to Guantanamo? No questions answered?
I hope the Arab nations are able to break the stranglehold that the US/Israeli cabal has in place on the world financial system.

Posted by: John Francis Lee | Nov 13 2006 2:39 utc | 52

some pix of venezuela’s new bridge across the orinoco
anyone catch sat nite’s soccer match between olimpia & marathon down honduras way? holy crap, what a game.

Posted by: b real | Nov 13 2006 4:33 utc | 54

@Noirette, superbly insightful post as always. I suspect that any history of its transformation into increasingly outlaw state can’t be told w/out discussing the very recent role of the Russian Mob. Wonder if this is feeding back to xUS – helping push it over the edge into Gangsta State.

Posted by: jj | Nov 13 2006 7:57 utc | 56

Oops! If I had read #35 on this thread I would have seen
that the point had already been raised.

Posted by: Hannah K. O’Luthon | Nov 13 2006 9:30 utc | 58

Thanks for that update, b. I knew that Roh Mu-hyun didn’t want to support the more draconian measures that the US and Japan are pushing for, but I really thought he would cave on it… Roh sent South Koreans to Iraq despite tremendous popular opposition (especially after a South Korean was beheaded) and his administration has been domestically crippled ever since. Apart from the fact that North and South Koreans are blood relatives, there’s some question in the minds of the leadership of SoKo about how sympathetic they are going to make North Korea look by “ganging up” on the North… so kowtowing to US demands is not going to help them win the hearts of their already peeved constituents here.

Posted by: Monolycus | Nov 13 2006 14:24 utc | 60

annie:
Yeah… the democratically elected government seems to have gone down in Palestine, thanks to the US/Israeli/EU/ArabOils.
No one in world cares about the Palestinians.
I can remember listening to Moms Mabley, talking about the right time to “hip” a child. “The minute he is born is the right time to hip a child! You got to tell him its the cars not the lights gonna kill him!”
Ain’t it the truth. All the “civilized” nations standing by, taking turns holding each others coats when they’ve tired themselves, kicking the bleeding Palestinians lying in the dust.

Posted by: John Francis Lee | Nov 14 2006 11:48 utc | 62