It's called peer reviewed!!

I guess the republicans are now going to try their heavy handed approach of intimidation, misinformation, and spreading doubt on the scientific community. Republican politicians now propose they should review the science done by scientists who are leaders in their fields and whose opinions are respected worldwide.

Sounds outrageous right, but not only do they propose to review scientist's peer reviewed papers, but also the entire careers of these scientists. But would it surprise you if these sorts of review requests are only for scientists whose work is at odds with lobbyist representing large interests, such as oil?

commondreams.org
guardian.co.uk

Polluters not Looters

I think rather than reports about people stealing a few consumer items they should be doing a little investigative journalism on the pollution that is likely going to be a HUGE problem in new Orleans. Or maybe that the dike system and plans to deal with the dikes need to be re evaluated.

alertnet.org
reuters.co.uk

Iraqi constitution

Well today the provisional authority, Kurds, Iraqi Shites and Sunnis seem to be unable to reach a consensus, there is fighting in the streets of Bahgdad. It is truly a sorry state, I am saddened that there is no leadership here or in Iraq, that could bring hope and vision to the people there.

Hacker Steals Air Force Officers' Personal Information

washingtonpost.com

One half of the US Air Force's Officers personal information was stolen by hackers this last week. This information included information about officers families, home addresses and Social Security numbers.

The military says that they will provide information to these people so if their 'identity' is stolen they can find out, and then knoiw of the bureaucratic nightmare of rebuilding their identity. I am sure that is comforting.

They did not really discuss that these people are serving in war that makes them targets as well. They just acted as if the only thing that a hacker illegally accessing the Air Force computer networks would be to steal financial information. Though they did mention security at the bases.

And again here is a real threat to the US, on US soil. But what is Bush doing? Bankrupting our goverment and killing our children and others in Iraq.

Televangelist Robertson Calls for Assassination of Venezuelan President

www.commondreams.org

As reported on the AP wire, Pat Roberston proposes killing South American leaders because full scale war costs to much money.

So sick, calling himself a 'christian' leader. Pat Roberston is the example that people hold up to vilify christianity.

Bush, Cheney, & Rove = Self Serving Traitors

I like the following points about outing of covert CIA agent Valerie Plume from an article at politicalaffairs.net

This episode raises some important questions that cry out for investigation:

• Does the fact that Wilson’s information (and Ambassador Owens-Kirkpatrick’s) was ignored point to a concerted effort on the part of the Bush administration to hide evidence that contradicted their claims about the dangers posed by Iraq and the need to go to war?


• Were they looking for evidence as early as February 2002 to justify an attack on Iraq?


• Why did they continue to claim that Iraq was trying to buy nuclear material when their evidence for such a claim was forged?


• Who forged the Niger memo that fit so well into the administration’s rationale for war?


• Was there an attempted cover up of who leaked the identity of Valerie Wilson?


• If so, does that cover up also constitute an attempt to cover up information that might reveal whether or not the Bush administration misled the public into war with Iraq?

And let us not forget: Twice, Karl Rove was dismissed from George H.W. Bush's campaign, in 1980 and 1992, respectively, for leaking to Novak.

We're gonna party like it's ... 9/11?

Donald H. Rumsfeld seems to think that the best to to win the war on terror is to have a big party with big name entertainment. Donald also thinks that to win the war on terror we must further confuse the 9/11 attacks with the war in Iraq.

Can I say it one more time, I am not confused, The Bush Administration is a complete failure, the one eyed Mullah Omar and Osama Bin Laden and his deputy are still running around in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Instead of pursuing an intelligent campaign old Donald thinks a party is in order. Someone should explain, usually you have the party when the war is over or there is something to celebrate.

I guess that is par for the course, the more Donald fucked up in Iraq; before, at the beginning, during occupation, and during the ongoing training of the Iraqis themselves; he has received praise from Bush. So sad, so crazy.

salon.com
nydailynews.com

A Middle East Policy?

So I just quickly flip thru the news to find these headlines. Bush is doing a horrible job, the US is letting Afghanistan and Iraq go down the SHITTER, we are unable to deal with the real threats in the middle east (it's not just Haliburton), and Bush shows ZERO respect for the real sacrifice of real people.

Gunmen Kidnap Iraqi Interior Official
I am very surprised there are any ministers left in Baghdad, but gunmen kidnapped a senior Iraqi Interior Ministry official today as he drove his car in central Baghdad. The kidnapping occurred in Baghdad's Andalus Square, gunmen stopped Brig. Gen. Khudayer Abbas and forced him into another vehicle at gunpoint. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Iraq-Kidnapping.html

Taliban Kill Afghan Woman on Spying Charge
I don't see the people of Afghanistan to be any safer. Yesterday, Taliban guerrillas executed an Afghan woman after accusing her of spying for U.S.-led forces. http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/international/international-afghan-taliban.html

Iran Removes Seals on Equipment at Nuclear Plant
Not seeing the US as a threat, and likely a loose cannon, the Iranians are making a rush to be a nuclear power. Today Iran removed seals that had been placed by United Nations inspectors at its nuclear site and brought the plant into full operation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/10/international/middleeast/10cnd-iran.html?hp&ex=1123732800&en=8e6d16ec9dadba9b&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Americans join mom in waiting for Iraq answers
Well Bush is of course not in Washington he's on vacation at his "ranch" in Texas. Outside is a woman who's son died in Iraq, she feels he's flippant with the lives of Americans like her son. Instead of empathizing with her, the Bush camp and right wing pundits have been trying to vilify her, a mother who lost her son, at the behest of a man who has not sacrificed anything, ever. It's sad. http://www.suntimes.com/output/marin/cst-edt-carol10.html

Four including Muhammad Atta were tagged as Al-Qaida cell one year before 9/11 attacks

Four, including Muhammad Atta were tagged as Al-Qaida cell one year before 9/11 attacks

More than one year before the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, a small, highly classified military-intelligence unit identified Mohammed Atta and three other future hijackers as likely members of an Al-Qaida cell operating in the United States. This according to a former defense intelligence official and a member of Congress, Curt Weldon, Republican of Pennsylvania.

One year before 9/11 this intelligence unit wanted to alert the FBI but their recommendations were not followed. One year after 9/11 the issue was again raised but not mentioned by the 9/11 commission.

So again people at the top are responsible for ignoring and possibly burying this intelligence after the fact. My question is are we trying to win or are we trying to lose. There is no accountability from the top, nor responsibility. Lots of blame on the intelligence community though.

It reminds me of the white-house memo titled "Bin Laden determined to attack inside the U.S.". This memo had been described by the White House as a historical document with little information about domestic al Qaeda threats. The now declassified intelligence report said the FBI had detected "patterns of suspicious activity in this country consistent with preparations for hijackings."

Highlights from that report include:

• An intelligence report received in May 2001 indicating that al Qaeda was trying to send operatives to the United States through Canada to carry out an attack using explosives. That information had been passed on to intelligence and law enforcement agencies.


• An allegation that al Qaeda had been considering ways to hijack American planes to win the release of operatives who had been arrested in 1998 and 1999.


• An allegation that bin Laden was set on striking the United States as early as 1997 and through early 2001.


• Intelligence suggesting that suspected al Qaeda operatives were traveling to and from the United States, were U.S. citizens, and may have had a support network in the country.


• A report that at least 70 FBI investigations were under way in 2001 regarding possible al Qaeda cells/terrorist-related operations in the United States.

The Bush administration is full of failures, they always have an excuse, they always have someone to blame, and they push out anyone with valid experience who may try to tell them they are missing the point.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/12337795.htm
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/2429805e-08c2-11da-880b-00000e2511c8.html
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/08/09/paper_says_hijackers_cited_in_2000_advisory/
http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/5550239.html
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/10/bush.briefing/

Shuttle Lands Safely

At 5:11 Am the Shuttle Landed Safely Today. Thank goodness.

I hope that we will look to remake a future space program with modern vehicles and not continue to try to make a complete space program out of the aging Space Shuttle.

I love the space program but NASA needs a kick in the pants. Their reaction to this crisis was poor and seemed almost defeatists.

What about using the Shuttle as an unmanned payload ferry, or even skip the shuttle and use the boosters to lift the large payloads that supposedly necessitate the continued use of the shuttle.

Perhaps the Bush administration is trying to bankrupt and tear down the space program like they are trying to bankrupt the education system, social security and the the US government in general.

White House Plan Called for Covert Aid in Iraq Vote

GW Bush wanted to run elections abroad like they run them here in the US. Not with the sole purpose of a fair and transparent election but with the purpose of trying to get elected who they wanted by hook or by crook. The administration pushed a covert plan to support those parties we felt best suited our interests, but congress disapproved of this idea. The administration says they abandoned the idea, but they went ahead with it anyway.

Just another example of Bush and his cronies giving a Rat's ass about Democracy and just go ahead with their plans and then lie about it. Just like going to war with Iraq in the first place.

An article by Seymour M. Hersh, reports that the administration proceeded with the covert plan over the Congressional objections. Several senior Bush administration officials disputed this, even though they recalled renewed discussions within the administration last fall about how the United States might counter what was seen as extensive Iranian support .

Pres. Bush, in public statements, insisted that the United States will help promote conditions for democracy in the region and will live with whatever governments emerge in free elections. But as we see again and again Bush can't open his mouth without lying or obfuscating.

Unidentified former military and intelligence officials said the administration went ahead with covert election activities in Iraq that "were conducted by retired C.I.A. officers and other non-government personnel, and used funds that were not necessarily appropriated by Congress." ..."the methods and the scope of the covert effort have been hard to discern."

Representative Jane Harman of California, the top Democrat on the House intelligence committee, issued a statement: "Congress was consulted about the administration's posture in the Iraqi election. I was personally consulted. But if the administration did what is alleged, that would be a violation of the covert action requirements, and that would be deeply troubling."

Despite denials by Bush administration officials, others said they could not rule out the possibility that the United States and its allies might have provided secret aid to Iraqi candidates and parties.

Also during this time period former military and intelligence officials stated the White House promulgated highly classified Presidential findings "authorizing the C.I.A. to provide money and other support covertly to political candidates in certain countries who were seeking to spread democracy". A recently retired high-level C.I.A official stated “But there’s no doubt that Baghdad was a stop on the way." This process is under the control of the C.I.A and the Defense Department.

http://www.world-crisis.com/news/1163_0_1_0_C/
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/050725fa_fact
http://psychoanalystsopposewar.org/resources_files/PlanCalled_forCovertAid_inIraqVote.html

It just makes me sick!!