WMDs in Iraq

[Jumbo Jet]

OH NO! Not another WMD thread.



One of the best stories I have seen in a long time.





http://mensnewsdaily.com/archive/t/tremoglie/2004/tremoglie012904.htm



You got to love politicians!!

 

[AKAMAC]

Jumbo, you should know by now that what a politician said yesterday has nothing to do with what is said today.

Any way the wind blows, so go they.

 

[Sled Puller]

Clinton told reporters today, he was working on gotten rid of all of Saddams WMD- until they threw the inspectors out. So he decided to bomb them away, BUT he aint for shore ifin he got em all, causin the inspectors was thrown out, ya hear? Soes they couldn't go back in and looky.



What a clown.

 

[Champane Flight]

The real idiot is still in office

Where's the Apology?

By PAUL KRUGMAN





eorge Bush promised to bring honor and integrity back to the White House. Instead, he got rid of accountability.



Surely even supporters of the Iraq war must be dismayed by the administration's reaction to David Kay's recent statements. Iraq, he now admits, didn't have W. M. D. , or even active programs to produce such weapons. Those much-ridiculed U. N. inspectors were right. (But Hans Blix appears to have gone down the memory hole. On Tuesday Mr. Bush declared that the war was justified — under U. N. Resolution 1441, no less — because Saddam "did not let us in. ")



So where are the apologies? Where are the resignations? Where is the investigation of this intelligence debacle? All we have is bluster from Dick Cheney, evasive W. M. D. -related-program-activity language from Mr. Bush — and a determined effort to prevent an independent inquiry.



True, Mr. Kay still claims that this was a pure intelligence failure. I don't buy it: the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace has issued a damning report on how the threat from Iraq was hyped, and former officials warned of politicized intelligence during the war buildup. (Yes, the Hutton report gave Tony Blair a clean bill of health, but many people — including a majority of the British public, according to polls — regard that report as a whitewash. )



In any case, the point is that a grave mistake was made, and America's credibility has been badly damaged — and nobody is being held accountable. But that's standard operating procedure. As far as I can tell, nobody in the Bush administration has ever paid a price for being wrong. Instead, people are severely punished for telling inconvenient truths. And administration officials have consistently sought to freeze out, undermine or intimidate anyone who might try to check up on their performance.



Let's look at three examples. First is the Valerie Plame affair. When someone in the administration revealed that Ms. Plame was an undercover C. I. A. operative, one probable purpose was to intimidate intelligence professionals. And whatever becomes of the Justice Department investigation, the White House has been notably uninterested in finding the culprit. ("We have let the earthmovers roll in over this one," a senior White House official told The Financial Times. )



Then there's the stonewalling about 9/11. First the administration tried, in defiance of all historical precedents, to prevent any independent inquiry. Then it tried to appoint Henry Kissinger, of all people, to head the investigative panel. Then it obstructed the commission, denying it access to crucial documents and testimony. Now, thanks to all the delays and impediments, the panel's head says it can't deliver its report by the original May 11 deadline — and the administration is trying to prevent a time extension.



Finally, an important story that has largely evaded public attention: the effort to prevent oversight of Iraq spending. Government agencies normally have independent, strictly nonpartisan inspectors general, with broad powers to investigate questionable spending. But the new inspector general's office in Iraq operates under unique rules that greatly limit both its powers and its independence.



And the independence of the Pentagon's own inspector general's office is also in question. Last September, in a move that should have caused shock waves, the administration appointed L. Jean Lewis as the office's chief of staff. Ms. Lewis played a central role in the Whitewater witch hunt (seven years, $70 million, no evidence of Clinton wrongdoing); nobody could call her nonpartisan. So when Mr. Bush's defenders demand hard proof of profiteering in Iraq — as opposed to extensive circumstantial evidence — bear in mind that the administration has systematically undermined the power and independence of institutions that might have provided that proof.



And there are many more examples. These people politicize everything, from military planning to scientific assessments. If you're with them, you pay no penalty for being wrong. If you don't tell them what they want to hear, you're an enemy, and being right is no excuse.



Still, the big story isn't about Mr. Bush; it's about what's happening to America. Other presidents would have liked to bully the C. I. A. , stonewall investigations and give huge contracts to their friends without oversight. They knew, however, that they couldn't. What has gone wrong with our country that allows this president to get away with such things?



Cause he can?

 

[Boomer II]

To the Bush haters, It matters not what the President does, just wait till Osama gets caught, it'll all be "rigged", same crap they said about Saddam. I hope he kicks their butts in November, maybe they'll pipe down with the BS, then again, probably not.

 

[Sticks]

In a recent impromptu interview with Pres. Bush, he was asked if he still believes that we will find WMD in Iraq.



"Yes. I have the receipt. "

 

[Steve M]

Strange how the right wingers wanted to just nuke the entire middle east and kill them all. They're all terrorists right? Then when no weapons of mass distruction show up, alluva sudden it's " well, the people of Iraq are much better off with Saddam captured". Aren't these the same people you wanted to blast from the face of the earth?



So Clinton got a BJ and the right wingers were willing to spend millions in tax money to prove he lied. Yet GW lied to us so he could pursue his pet project of invading a country under false pretenses and all is well.



In the 12 yrs between 1980 and 1992 that the Republicans controlled the white house, they put us in debt at the tune of over 4 trillion bucks. In the 8 years that Clinton was in office, he balanced the deficit and didn't start any wars under false pretense. I think he deserved a BJ.



Iraq didn't bomb the WTC. Al Qaida did. Iraq has been in the mix of shady oil business for over 20yrs with the Bush family firmly in the mix. Now GW has made his business our business at our expense. But at least he didn't get a BJ.

 

[Sled Puller]

Im still for bombing.



WMDS were a part of the larger picture-the WAR ON TERRORISM.



WMDs is just a catchy little phrase the left wing nuts like to use, like assault rifle, to try and do the Republicans damage.



I see their Nazi Youth are using it quite nicely, too.





There was tons of proof, that Saddam had them, though, for the last 10-12 years. There are no records that they got rid of them.



I think Saddams allies, France, Russia, Germany, The Press, helped them go away, to try and make us look bad.



But I don't really care- as long as we are killing terrorists, and terrorist training facilitys, and in general, keeping the mideast stirred up, I'm happy. becuase if they are fighting over there, they aren't blowing buildings up over here.

 

[PLaFrombois]

Are we sure there are no "wmd's" in Iraq? "NO". Are we given all the information that the intelligence community has gathered? "NO". Have we had time to search the whole country for these weapons? "NO". Were the u. n. inspectors, or anyone else for that matter, given the tour of every single tunnel and bunker that was built in Iraq? "NO". Look at how many tunnels were found in Vietnam, and wonder how many are still undiscovered to this day.



Everyone wants this to be done quickly, find the weapons, bring law and order to the country and get out. This is long term, the people of Iraq have been victimized for so long, that it will take time for them to get over the fears of those in authority. "G. W. " has given that commitment.



We've captured saddam, and obl isn't far behind. We can now focus our inteiligence on locating him. I hope he's enjoying himself, because he doesn't have much time remaining free. I'd say early March, and he'll be wearing an orange jumpsuit, and eating meals prepared by America's finest prison chef's.



This is something to think about! Since America is typically represented by an eagle. saddam and obl should have read up on their Muslim passages... The following verse is from the Quran, Islamic Bible, Quran (9:11)



For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah and lo, while some of the people trembled in despair, still more rejoiced; for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah; and there was peace. (Note the verse number)



FREEDOM: it has a high price, but long lasting rewards.



Paul

 

[NETim]

Isn't it amazing?

Once and for all, Bill Clinton DID NOT submit a balanced budget until 1994, the year the GOP took over both houses of Congress. CONGRESS controls spending. The President submits a budget and asks for money, but CONGRESS ULTIMATELY DETERMINES WHAT GETS SPENT!



Clinton gets the credit for what a GOP controlled Congress did and Reagan gets gigged for what a DNC controlled Congress did.



You Left leaners have got to do better.



(And when you vote for Kerry, pray that he doesn't take your CTD away. )



Tim

 

[CFAR]

Thats some funny video of the "snowtowcar" isn't it?

 

[FATCAT]

Well, we all won't have to worry about GW a year from now ... there is no way he will win re-election.



So be prepared to give back your tax breaks, turn tail and run from Iraq, and Steve M and Champane ... if your gun owners ... be prepared to turn them in to President Kerry or you and your families will be guned down in your own homes.



Bush is a great dissapointment to conservatives, he is assuming that we have no place to go in the next election ... but we do.

On Monday night at my rinky-dink town hall my U. S. Rep Jeb Bradley will be holding a town hall meeting and I will be there to give him an ear full to give to Bush. Many Republican Congressmen have a lot to answer for, for backing Bush on these outlandish spending programs and many will here from the voters this fall.

The sad part is that the dems will be back in power and the moral, spiritual, liberty loving values that made this country great will continue to erode till the US will be just another 3rd world hell hole ... and your children and grand children will get to experience it all ... and never know what deciency, liberty and freedom are.

 

[jlasich]

Well said, PLaFrombois. Incredibly interesting passage from the Quran. Very spooky, indeed. My vote this November will be for GWB, WMD or no WMD. Saddam needed to go.

 

[NScott]

Maybe if Bush gets really elected this time he will start a Military Draft again so he and "Chicken Hawk Cheney" can show their close friend's sons how to be AWOL or get lots of deferments to stay out of service.

http://www.awolbush.com/

 

[NETim]

Again NScott, we're all aware of the story. Please tell us how the Dem candidates will make things better. We've heard how bad, how stupid, Bush is over and over and over and over and over again. It makes for a weak campaign.



Until Mr Bush does something really bad like enable the sale of satellite secrets to the Red Chinese or heist FBI files on political opponents, I'll vote for Mr. Bush.



He's not perfect, but he's a damn sight better choice than what the Dems are offering us.



At least Mr Bush will let us keep our guns, our trucks and seems to understand that our paycheck is OUR paycheck.



Tim

 

[Champane Flight]

MMM- bad?

The Halliburton Shuffle

By BOB HERBERT



Can you spell Halliburton? R-i-p- o-f-f.



War-torn Iraq has been a gold mine for Halliburton, yet another treasure trove of U. S. taxpayer dollars for a company that has no peer in the fine art of extracting riches from the government.



But if you go through some of Halliburton's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission over the past several years, as I have, you'll see a company that goes to great lengths — literally to the ends of the earth — to escape paying its fair share of taxes to the government that has been so good to it.



Annual reports filed with the S. E. C. since the mid-90's — when Dick Cheney took over as chief executive and wrote the game plan for garnering government goodies — showed Halliburton subsidiaries incorporated in such places as the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Panama, Liechtenstein, and Vanuatu.



Vanuatu? Who knew?



Vanuatu is a mountainous group of islands in the South Pacific. Its people support themselves mostly by fishing and subsistence farming. "Additional revenues," according to the Columbia Encyclopedia, "derive from a growing tourist industry and the development of Vila [the capital] as a corporate tax shelter. "



Halliburton, in an S. E. C. filing in 2000, duly noted that it had a subsidiary incorporated in Vanuatu called Kinhill Kramer (Vanuatu) Ltd.



The company adamantly denies that its offshore subsidiaries are used to shift income out of the U. S. But it's indisputable that somebody is doing a dandy job of limiting Halliburton's tax liability. When I asked how much Halliburton paid in federal income taxes last year, a company spokeswoman, Wendy Hall, said, "After foreign tax credit utilization, we paid just over $15 million to the I. R. S. for our 2002 tax liability. "



That is effectively no money at all to an empire like Halliburton. Less than pocket change. Dick Cheney must be having a good laugh over the way his old company, following his road map, is taking the U. S. for such a ride.



In the early 90's, when Mr. Cheney was defense secretary under the first President Bush, he hired the Halliburton subsidiary Brown & Root to determine what military functions could be outsourced to private profit-making companies. Brown & Root came up with myriad ideas in a classified study and was handed a lucrative contract to implement its own plan.



Mr. Cheney took over as chief executive of Halliburton in 1995, and the defense contracts just kept on coming. When he returned to government as vice president in 2001, no firm was better positioned than Halliburton to cash in on the billions of dollars in contracts that resulted from the war on terror and the conflict in Iraq.



Halliburton is bound so intimately to the defense establishment it might as well be an adjunct to the military. (Mr. Cheney still receives deferred compensation from Halliburton but insists he has no role in the awarding of contracts. )



Halliburton is an organization that has the reach of a multinational and the eyes of a Willie Sutton. Through its subsidiaries, it has done work with countries the U. S. has accused of supporting terror. It was accused of overcharging the U. S. government for work done in the 1990's, and in 2002 it agreed to pay a $2 million settlement in response to accusations that it had defrauded the government.



The Pentagon is currently examining allegations that the Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown & Root overcharged the government by $61 million for gasoline imported into Iraq from Kuwait. Last week the company acknowledged that at least one employee had participated in a $6. 3 million kickback deal with a Kuwaiti company. That money has reportedly been repaid to the government.



What we have here is a private profit-making multinational company with no particular allegiance (other than contractual) to the U. S. government. Nevertheless, through its powerful allies in the government, Halliburton enjoys extraordinary influence over national defense policies and has its own key to the national treasury.



If it's at all grateful, it hasn't shown it. The U. S. is at war. The government is running record deficits. Money is tight everywhere. But Halliburton won't even kick in its fair share. It continues to benefit from the nation's largesse, while scouring the world for places to shelter as much of its American riches as it can.







And the bad continues. Like over 500 young men and women dead because of his personal agenda. How many have died for Clintons sins?

 

[NScott]

DITTO!!! C. F.

 

[JConley]

CF=TDR Bob

 

[Sled Puller]

If Haliburton was even 1/10th guilty of what CF insists they are, the Dems would have their Pitbulls all over it.



You can't hide that much illegal crap.



Clintons tried it, but it kept spilling out of the closet!!

 

[Steve M]

The hounds are sniffing every crack. If they find anything, the pit bulls will be brought out. Have no doubts about it. If they find nothing, nothing could be better to prove their innocence.