Iraq War

Revealed: Secret Plan To keep Iraq Under US Control By Patrick Cockburn

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/revealed-secret-plan-to-keep-iraq-under-us-control-840512.html

Revealed: Secret Plan To keep Iraq Under US Control

Bush wants 50 military bases, control of Iraqi airspace and legal immunity for all American soldiers and contractors

By Patrick Cockburn

05/06/08 "The Independent" --- A secret deal being negotiated in Baghdad would perpetuate the American military occupation of Iraq indefinitely, regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election in November.

The terms of the impending deal, details of which have been leaked to The Independent, are likely to have an explosive political effect in Iraq. Iraqi officials fear that the accord, under which US troops would occupy permanent bases, conduct military operations, arrest Iraqis and enjoy immunity from Iraqi law, will destabilise Iraq's position in the Middle East and lay the basis for unending conflict in their country.

Australia Bolts Iraq Over Bush's Lies By Ray McGovern June 3, 2008

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/060308b.html

consortiumnews.com

Australia Bolts Iraq Over Bush's Lies

By Ray McGovern
June 3, 2008

Editor’s Note: Even into the sixth year of war in Iraq – even as ex-White House press secretary Scott McClellan admits the deceptions used to justify the invasion – the U.S. news media still averts its eyes from the full ugliness of what happened in 2002-03.

In this story, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern notes the far greater candor occurring in Australia -- and cites the earlier whistle-blowing by members of the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS), which he helped found:

Matilda is walzing home from Iraq, and the Australians are lucky but chastened.

Lucky for having lost not one soldier in combat of the 2,000 sent to join the “coalition of the willing” attack on Iraq in March 2003.

Chastened because Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is now pulling no punches in decrying the subservience of his predecessor, John Howard, to Washington.

McClellan and the Media 'Enablers' By Jeff Cohen

(I absolutely believe it is better late than never. Yes, McClellan should have stood up sooner, but at least he's the first to so publicly come out now, and not hide behind coded, read-between-the-lines comments of past Bush White House insiders . . . It's not an insignificant gesture . . . Many others had the opportunity, like Colin Powell, but they were cowardly, fearful or had misplaced loyalty and did not stand up . . . As far as the media's concerned, of course we all know the pressure came from the top on down. If we had a truly free press, we would not be where we are today. Betsy)

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/053108a.html

McClellan and the Media 'Enablers'

By Jeff Cohen
May 31, 2008

Editor’s Note: Scott McClellan’s new book may be welcome in that it corroborates many claims from George W. Bush’s critics. But it’s still galling that so many prominent journalists who bowed before Bush’s bullying in 2002-03 have only seen their careers flourish.
In this guest essay, media critic Jeff Cohen revisits the journalistic cowardice before the Iraq invasion even though many media stars would prefer Americans not remember:

Monbiot tries citizens arrest of Bolton

British journalist (and official theory 9/11 defender) George Monbiot tried to serve a citizens arrest on John Bolton at the Hay Festival in Wales for war crimes where he was promoting his book "Surrender is not an option".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7424785.stm

Ex-Press Aide Writes That Bush Misled U.S. on Iraq By Michael D. Shear

This story (and Scott McClellan's book) should make our jobs a little easier . . . I wonder how many Americans will still believe that McClellan et al. didn't REALLY know what was going down in the White House?

McClellan's fooling himself (as) much the same way as Bush does (believes his own spin and propaganda) if he wants the reader to believe that "he and his subordinates were not 'employing out-and-out deception' to make their case for war in 2002".

Plausible denial, willful ignorance . . . (At least this book is a step in the right direction.)

The GWBush Administration will be remembered in history as a particular time when integrity and character were MIA in the extreme (and perhaps this will help reveal the truth behind 9/11) . . . . As one bumper sticker reads, "At least Nixon had the decency to resign."

Will anyone connected to the GWBush White House ever stand up and do the right thing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MInBl9ZB37Y&feature=related(Dave Matthews Band w/ Robert Randolph "Stand Up"

Betsy

War Abroad and Poverty at Home By Paul Craig Roberts

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19977.htm

War Abroad and Poverty at Home

By Paul Craig Roberts

23/05/08 "ICH" -- - The US Senate has voted $165 billion to fund Bush’s wars of aggression against Afghanistan and Iraq through next spring.

As the US is broke and deep in debt, every one of the $165 billion dollars will have to be borrowed. American consumers are also broke and deep in debt. Their zero saving rate means every one of the $165 billion dollars will have to be borrowed from foreigners.

The “world’s only superpower” is so broke it can’t even finance its own wars.

Each additional dollar that the irresponsible Bush Regime has to solicit from foreigners puts more downward pressure on the dollar’s value. During the eight wasted and extravagant years of the Bush Regime, the once mighty US dollar has lost about 60% of its value against the euro.

The dollar has lost even more of its value against gold and oil.

New Study Calls 'Embed' Program for U.S. Media in Iraq a 'Victory' -- for the Pentagon By Greg Mitchell

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003803787

(Nothing the White House has done in the past eight years has been by accident . . . . Is the general public beginning to understand just how much we've been manipulated and lied to? It's been a psychological operation from start to finish. Actually, it's on-going, but maybe in their arrogance, pushing for war in Iran might be their slip-up with the American people whose eyes are slowly opening . . . but how will the Fourth Estate shake their corporate control? Will people demand "truth" loud enough? This seems to be the way the wind is blowing . . . Betsy)

New Study Calls 'Embed' Program for U.S. Media in Iraq a 'Victory' -- for the Pentagon

By Greg Mitchell

Published: May 14, 2008 7:45 PM ET

We Are Change UK - Sir Richard Dearlove, again

http://wearechange.org.uk/

Members of We Are Change UK, along with Matt from We Are Change New York, went to ask Sir Richard Dearlove a few questions about allegations of him being a war criminal.

Mr Dearlove was instrumental in helping take the UK into the illegal war with Iraq and was quoted as saying the facts were being fixed around the policy of regime change in Iraq.

For more info please see:

http://www.downingstreetmemo.com/

Longshore workers stand down at West Coast ports: End Iraq War Now

For immediate release: May 1, 2008: The International Longshore and Warehouse Union

Longshore workers are standing down at West Coast ports:

“We’re standing up for America, we’re supporting the troops, and
we’re telling politicians that it’s time to end the Iraq war now!”

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA) More than 25,000 longshore workers at 29 west coast
ports are exercising their First Amendment rights today by taking a day off work
and calling for an end to the war in Iraq.

What Would You Ask Petraeus?

This is a letter I just received from Congressman Robert Wexler. I think he really could use our help.

What Would You Ask Petraeus?

Dear Eloy,

As President Bush stubbornly refuses to change course in Iraq, it grows increasingly frustrating for those of us who have been loudly demanding a withdrawal. I know you share my frustration. Every day, I receive letters and emails from patriotic Americans who want to - somehow – personally contribute to a solution.

Now it is your turn.

Next week, General Petraeus – the architect of the failed surge policy and our chief military leader in Iraq - will be testifying before the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

For too long the Bush Administration has been in a bubble – hiding from the truth and avoiding tough questions from outraged American citizens. This time I am turning the oversight powers of Congress over to you.

I want you to be the ones asking the questions to General Petraus.

Write me back with a short reply and tell me what - specifically - you would like me to ask. Please include your first name as well as your city and state.

On denial, Iraq and 9/11

As we all know, one of the major hurdles in waking people up is the denial of what governments and individuals are capable of doing and justifying. "They would never kill our own people" or "that is too monstrous an idea to consider".

I would like to point to a few documentaries that might open some eyes.

Fallujah - The Hidden Massacre (warning shocking footage) http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8905191678365185391

The Panama Deception http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-446387292666223710&q=panama+deception&total=145&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&p...

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5832390545689805144&q=revolution+will+not+be+televised&total=255&start=0&num=10&so...

The Ground Truth http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5188599301918606321&q=The+Ground+Truth&total=2061&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search...

While not dealing with 9/11 specifically, they do show indiscriminate killing and carnage that is the modus operandi of all empires.

5 Years Ago: Why Was Public So Misinformed On Facts Leading To War?

Source: mediainfo.com

By E&P Staff
Published: March 23, 2008 11:10 AM ET

NEW YORK Five years ago today, as the U.S invasion of Iraq continued in its early stages, E&P published an article by Ari Berman, then an intern here, that examined the public attitudes on the eve of the war. He probed polls that found, on the most basic point, that roughly 2 out of 3 Americans backed an assault on Iraq.

But the attitudes driving those numbers raised serious issues about a misinformed public and the media's role. He found that a startlingly high percentage falsely believed that Saddam helped plan the 9/11 attacks or Iraqi hijackers were involved that day, and that Iraqi WMD had already been found.

An excerpt is reprinted below.

WeAreChangeLA meets Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson: "The 9-11 Commission's findings have a number of imperfections..."

Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson was in town on Wednesday, and Garko and I from WeAreChangeLA got a chance to listen to an interesting conversation and ask him about 9-11. Ian Masters, the moderator, defensively jumped the gun on my question about 9-11. Wilkerson dodged the question on whether he supports a genuine investigation of 911. What he did give was an insightful perspective on the "totally useless" intelligence community. I still think that he is harboring serious anger at Cheney and serious resentment at the intelligence community. I want to know what he knows and thinks about 9-11.

He started out, after saying that it was total news to him that all these CIA vets had questioned the 9-11 Commission, by stating that "the 9-11 Commission's findings have a number of imperfections..." He then went on to describe the uselessness of the hi-tech intelligence apparatus. I agree with him on much of his statement, but he spun away from answering the yes or no new investigation question fairly skillfully.

911 Truth on Canadian national television (CBC)

This was on Canadian national television last night March 19, 2008.

The Lies that Led to War
http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/lies/video.html
aired on March 19, 2008

Since the US-led invasion four years ago, the fifth estate has covered Iraq and the war on terror from virtually every angle--the military, media, intellligence, politics--revealing aspects of the story that you didn't find anywhere else.

Now, as the White House warns about the latest threat in the region, this time from Iran, we go back to examine the deception, suspect intelligence, even lies that convinced the world of the rightness of targeting Saddam Hussein.

Ray McGovern Debates James Woolsey On The Iraq War

Click Here (24.3MB .mp3)

In 2004, Robert Greenwald made a movie entitled, "Uncovered: The Whole Truth About The Iraq War". In it, there are such notables as Karen Kwiatkowski, Scott Ritter, Ray McGovern, and many others. I'm assuming around that time (because I don't know the exact date of this debate), Charlie Rose had CIA Analyst of 27 years Ray McGovern, and Former CIA Director James Woolsey on his TV show to discuss the arguments made in the film. You can watch the debate here, however, the voices lose sync with the mouths, and it becomes annoying (hence the reason I recorded it). This definitely appears to have taken place before the famous "Downing Street Memos", and John Conyers' hearings (copy & paste the URL and open it in RealPlayer).

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