I would be happy to exchange email addresses J CONRAD, I feel a connection to you as we have parallel inclinations and life searches. On the other hand, at times my choosing to venture into the mystical and or metaphysical on this site has led to some inflamed responses, by my math (and of course there are those who do not "vote") it's about 78% positive to about 22% vehemently opposed. The intolerance by that 22% surprises me on a progressive site, but as Richard Bach once wisely articulated, "If you argue FOR your limitations, you get to keep them." My historical knowledge of Buddhist practices in varied Asian nations is not my forte, though I do recall a 60 Minutes presentation that showed why the Vietnamese are so OK with the US today in spite of the high cancer rates linked to agent orange exposures still ongoing. It comes down to their understanding of karma. As for why mono theistic religions seem first to kill, the notion that GOD is on their side is a powerful moral anesthetizer... remember the experiments where students upped the ante on electro shocks at the nod of the authority figure? Add that to the numbers/statistics John Dean comes up with in his masterful "Conservatives without Conscience," and then apply those numbers to the diabolical historical imprint of the many times reigious followers have been told to murder someone else purportedly in God's name. Religion IS the antiChrist by and large... and that does include the martial elements of the same 3 patriarchal ones that by extension constitute the bloodbath in the Middle East, the birthplace of same. Tragic irony in deed.

Siouxrose: Nice to hear from you. I find your thinking and writing to be very informed and original in an unusual way...and I mean unusual as in very good and unique. The way you combine words is something of a surprise which is refreshing. I think we may have tuned into a similar frequency one way or another. And the heart seems to be engaged as well as the intellect. As you might imagine I have been marching or stumbling along to that "different drummer" as long as I can remeber. It keeps samsara interesting. Feel free to contact me at lamagonzo@hotmail.com although I have a total address spam filter and will have to look for your transmission in my junk mail box, thus, a hint of what address to expect would be helpful. I will try to not disappoint, but my cyber activity time/interests tend to vary with other living factors. The sun is setting here and my guru, a very kind golden chow-chow, is demanding a walk.

Small world Siouxrose. You must have stayed at the Bodnath temple/monastery complex. I was in Nepal and northern India three times with the last visit being 1974. Life and reality has never been the same since.

I suppose that inquiring minds often fall into similar channels. I have thought often of what you articulated about why Christians, and other God-centric faiths, tend to be so violent. All of the mono-theistic religions tend to fall into patterns of extreme violence. It is hard to figure, although an examination of the Bible and other texts reveals frequent reference to war and absolute and deadly judgments. While some Buddhists do engage in violence it seems to be less severe and less frequent with a genuine goal of peaceful living. They also seem to have a much more tolerant and flexible mindset with more Tao and less duality. A curious aberration in Buddhist history was Japan in the WWII period, but the politics of the divine emperor and feudal warlord thinking had overtaken Buddhist thought long before the industrialization and militarization. Another quirk in the Japanese culture was the elimination of Mahayana Buddhist (great vehicle with liberation for all) traditions for a less compassionate Zen approach which became linked to the warrior culture, as a generalization. I am convinced that the Tibetans, due perhaps to their historic isolation, had developed the most effective and comprehensive Buddhist practice ever on earth. And yes, there are pure Christian doctrines of kindness and peace and forgiveness as you mention, but they seem to have been suppressed. Thomas Merton spent some of his final times among the Tibetans. Yet, how may Christian "spiritual" leaders are speaking out about the Iraq war crimes today ? Just think of the sadistic brutality of the inquisitions ! I think the contemporary move towards evangelical "fun-duh-mental-ism" (I couldn't resist that one) has been linked to the imperial war machine. The evangelicals have also formed a link with the Zionists which may be part of a political design as that was not true in the past. The hideous Blackwater mercenary corporation is headed by a conservative "Christian" not unlike our dubious Christian "W". Crusader spin language is also part of the mix of war and dark commerce. What to do ? Keep seeking and keep exchanging thoughts around the world ? I think Christ would be pissed if he were around today. However, I have a lot of faith in thinking and ideas. Once a beneficial thought occurs, the world is changed in some way. On the other hand that can be true of dangerous thoughts as well. So round and round the world goes. Actually, my interest in political things and art (photographs) is actually a conscious Mahayana commitment to make some kind of contribution. Or at least "seeking" is a way to make this life interesting while working on our human evolution. And yes, politics would not be a problem at all if there were more people with genuine spiritual viewpoints as a foundation. Ultimately "consciousness" become very political as it manifests in society. I am not sure this website is the place for this discussion, thus if you want to exchange email addresses,let me know. Walk with Metta.

JCONRAD: Love the Tibet story/confession. I consider myself a spiritual seeker, that while it's important to recognize the currents that drive events, I always look for insights drawn from mystics and masters that would help mankind to transcend the recurrent patterns that lead to so much depravity and pain. (and that doesn't even address blowback, CIA style or karmic.) One of the best experiences of my life was spending 10 days at a Buddhist monastery in Nepal... it intrigues me that they do not "have a persona relationship" with a Deified god... and yet PRACTICE peace; whereas those religions that claim a personal god promote war. I know, there are pacifists like John Deer and Martin Luther King who truly connected with the teachings as given by luminous/awakened souls, but for the most part, followers of religion are often all too ready to kill "other" on the command of some low-life who pretends to be a leader. Boy, do we see this disease at play now... forgiveness is one element taught by all true masters because no one can burn all their karma, we are imperfect human beings continually creating more in spite of our best efforts. To those that cannot or will not forgive a person, culture, or people they feel have wronged them (or perhaps they have determined this sect is unworthy)... the sad part is that forgiveness is a gift to the one who practices it... it is NOT so much about the recipient! If this axiom was taught in terms of its metaphysical power (Marianne Williamson is a pro on this one), it coud change the world. This lesson represents the cornerstone of spiritual economy: by doing the right thing, you aid your own future "bank account" while obviously doing something of vaue in the here and now of hopeful/probable benefit to other. If only we all practiced this... the Buddhists do!

Whoops!

Another error in the already bad reporting...

Here's the quote...

But Ms. Wooten and Ms. Corley have a present day role model for war profiteering. The booty of a war that put treasure in the pockets of Charlene Corley and Darlene Wooten has also enriched Vice-President Cheney, who, in his reelection win with George W. Bush in 2004, received better than 72% of the vote here in Lexington County.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

But look at what was written earlier in the article...

According to a front page story in The State newspaper, "Charlene Corley, 46, pleaded guilty to a nine-year fraud that included charging the Pentagon $998,798.38 for shipping two 19 cent bolt washers."
--------------------------------------------------------------------

"nine-year fraud"?!?....ummm....

That leads back to 1998...Long before Bush and Cheney...

I believe that was the administration of President "He Whom Shall Never Be Blamed For Anything"...

www.hardcorepolitics.com

ascott said: " Now that the US has legitimized the use of pre-emptive wars, what is to stop the rest of the world from deciding that a pre-emptive war on the US might be the only route to world peace."

A very true and disturbing thought. There is more and more information and writing on the topic of the decline of the American empire if it can be called that. In the meantime, are making enemies faster than we can kill them. If we keep up the current pace of brutality and vanity that neocon spin "mushroom cloud" "smoking gun" might become a self-generated reality.

I was lucky enough to travel Europe (via bicycle) way back in 1969 as a college dropout. My first real understanding of the "state" was to be on the other end of a four foot unbreakable batton while engaging in harmless campus protest. When in Europe,I was very conscious of what I considered to be our national shame in Vietnam and actually tried to pass myself off as a Canadian rather than admit I was from a nation of war criminals. When talking to ordinary people in Europe it was easy to understand the deep collective psychic scare tissue remaining from two world wars. It was in their voices and eyes and seemed to be a humility acquired through suffering that does not exists here in DisneyAmerica.

I also have also know number of people permanently spooked and in pain from war PTSD. Two ended their lives prematurely. I can still feel thier torment.

And how about the Vietnemese monks who set themselves on fire to make a statement on the pages of Life Magazine. Did anyone notice?

I only hope that Amerika manages to stumble onto a faster learning curve in the near future. Life could be much more beautiful.

Prescott Bush was Director and major stock holder of Dressers' Industries Oil Service company. Dresser's was purchased for a huge sum by Halliburton when Cheney was it's head. The Bush family must have inherited this stock from Prescott and his wife Dorothy Walker from whom W and HWB got the name....if so they may have an interest in Halliburton. A good researcher should google Dresser's , Halliburton and trace this. Let's not wait till W retires to Crawford and Walker's point, where the Kennebushbunk mansion is located to trace all of this. I believe Dresser's was named after the man who invented the couplings for pipes used in oil drilling...he was from Michigan

the worst part, is that all these people are you're neighbors; maybe not yours but somebody else's. WHAT are your neighbors doing? Nah, never mind. I'll just keep my opinions secret on my progressive online personality.Do something. Don't let me catch you in wal-mart. god, i'm too tired. once you make the difference; truly, everything is easy.

JConrad

I have frequently heard Europeans sighingly say that America will not wake up to the futility, the horror, and the evil of war until Americans suffer war on their own soil. I deeply fear this is true: it may take a World War III, one with an American 'theater' - (what a horrible term!) - to awaken enough Americans to the need to take back the government. (If the bombs could fall on Halliburton's executives and their families, you might even see a change in them, too.)

Now that the US has legitimized the use of pre-emptive wars, what is to stop the rest of the world from deciding that a pre-emptive war on the US might be the only route to world peace. We are on shaky economic ground already: if, as a first step, they cut off the money supply, (stopped buying our debt, etc.), we would see 'shock and awe.' (Don't think there aren't nations where these conversations have gone on.)

Unfortunately, reaping what you sow often occurs on a national scale, and all of us together may reap what only a small number of us have sown.

The economy is collapsing. Global Warming continues unabated and threatens humanity around the world. The wars and the killing have "surged" and continue. The Bush corporate regime continues to consolidate power. All with the active complicity of the corporate controlled Democratic Party. We must act now before November 2008 or it will be too late.

DUMP THE DEMOCRATS!
UNITE INTO A NEW PARTY NOW!

We the people, opposed to the destruction of the planet and it's peoples, now atomized and powerless in "grass roots" and "special interest" groups, must unite our efforts and resources into a new party to replace the corrupt Democratic Party! A new party that rejects corporate funding in order to end the corporate plunder of the federal government.

A new party explicitly opposed to the Project for the New American Century. Opposed to unending war for profit and power. Cut the military budget by 50%, shut down the 700 military bases around the world. Re-instate taxes cut by Bush gang.

A new party that commits the entire resources of the country to end global warming, end imperialist wars, implements true non-profit universal health care. promotes mass transportation, develops renewable energy, and produces the essentials for human survival.

A new party that promotes an economy that works towards fulfilling the economic needs of all the people, not just to profit a tiny minority of super wealthy. No more people living on the streets! No more hospitalized people being dumped into the streets when they have no money or health insurance! (See the film SICKO)

A new party to unite all of the oppressed people of this country. A new party that cuts across all the false social and cultural divisions that keep us forever powerless (racial, ethnic, age, language, etc.). A new party to unite us against the unending destruction of peoples and planet.

A SOCIALIST PARTY to promote the end of gangster capitalism, run-amok capitalism, which is supported by both Democratic and Republican parties.

A new party to support the labor movement and all working people. We urge the labor movement to stop supporting the Democratic Party (already besotted by corporate money), and to focus its precious resources to fund a new national radio and television network. By being on the air 24 hours a day the labor movement can provide the latest news, information, education and current affairs analysis desperately needed by all working people. This effort, combined with the formation of the new party, will be a bold step towards reviving the organized labor movement.

For years we have listened to radio programs like DEMOCRACY NOW! that has discussed with numerous "grass roots" groups desperately struggling to make a positive change in society. Anti-war protest groups, civil rights groups, union struggles, affordable housing groups, teachers unions, health care access, seniors about Social Security, have involved millions of people. Now is the time to unite the energy and resources of the people into a new party.

The new party provides a means of uniting the "special interest" agendas of each group into the platform of the new party. The new party candidates, selected from the various individuals and groups, would become the candidates representing their cause and the new party. The new party will contest for office at every level of government in order to take power. The new party will provide the new leadership and new programs this country desperately needs.

There is still time before November 2008 elections to start this process. Even the announcement and preparation for a founding convention of such a new party will shock both Democrats and Republican incumbents. They will know that their days are numbered!

The needs of all previous "minority" and "special interests" people now become the platform of the new party representing the vast majority of people. Can the existing activists of so-called "minority" and "special interest" groups overcome their existing powerlessness, and link up with each other to start this new party?

This all-inclusive struggle will attract millions of atomized working people, often non-voters and uninvolved people, who have been atomized, exploited, brain-washed by corporate media and ultimately destroyed by gangster capitalism.

When will the do-nothing Congress ( Pelosi led? ) wake up and hear what their constituents are saying? Investigate and get rid of the bastards! Fine them for billions, confiscate their properties, assess major punitive damages and throw them all in jail. No plea bargains, no appeals, no reprieves, no pardons, no early releases. From the president, vice president and all down the line. We need to wipe clean this disaster from our country's tarnished reputation. There will be a world wide celebratiion, with church bells ringing from Washinton to London to Paris to Berlin to Baghdad to Moscow to Beijing! Yes, even Mexico City to Buenos Aires to Montivedeo and all around the world! Peace and good will at last!!!

Siouxrose Inc: The dog insisted we go to the store for biscuits. Anyway, time for true confessions and a relevant story. I escaped the insanity of the Nam era in Amerika and landed among the Tibetan refugees in northern India in 1970. Went over-land via Iran and Afghanistan before it was all an oil war zone. Nice people everywhere...so why bomb them ? It was quite a reality sandwich to encounter people (the Tibetans) who had not engaged in warfare for nearly five centuries. It is somewhat simplistic but true to say that it is all a state of mind and a cultural perspective. We have some very primitive people in high places of power. But what to do with hard heads and cold hearts ?

The Tibetans were once an aggressive warrior culture but then Buddhist principles of thought and action replaced the old paradigm. Unfortunately for them the Chinese went industrial and imperialistic and occupied Tibet. But even that tragedy had a silver lining as now the Tibetans are all over the world planting seeds of thought. It will take time, but even American barbarism will eventually change. The Europeans gave up on militaristic imperialism after a lot of painful experiences, but we have yet to learn the lesson. Actually, you commented on a piece that I wrote for my local newspaper that was picked up by Common Dreams. Political writing is not my favorite cup of tea, but I have been pondering such issues for a terribly long time, and still recall the pain and deaths of Nam era fiends...etc. I wrote the following from a pragmatic viewpoint with a touch of morality, although I prefer to dwell in the realms of spirit, if possible. Wearing you heart on your sleeve can be risky at times and not everyone wants to hear philosophy 101.

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/07/31/2886/

Thanks for the story. Wake up America. Sara Carter, a Washington Times reporter has also some NEWS about how crooks in our governnmenbt are in the drug business, too. (C-SPAN) Is Cheney hauling drugs with aminition on his 18-wheelers in Iraq, or are they running the Northern Freeway between Mexico and Canada. I did not vote for GW and Cheney. Let's support John Edwards and a Democrat,a (total) yellow dog Congress... Those men and women that have common decency and guts to stand up for American People.

Jconrad: We are kindred spirits! Right/write on! Thank you for the validation and connecting with me. This site gives me hope! As someone asked on another blog, how do we who post here meet the challenge of waking up our sleeping brothers & sisters who possess the requisite consciousness to CARE about others? People who have been lied to as a matter of long routine often do not recognize this theft to their senses; or as I prefer to ask, "How does the dreamer come to recognize the AWAKENED state." I applaud all of us who do our parts to work towards a spiritual critical mass. Truth is its own medicine, if efficiently administered...

Siouxrose...thanks for noticing. The second paragraph came to me last night for some odd reason. Perhaps it was the Ginsberg I was reading. I have noticed your warm-hearted missiles of wisdom here and there on Common Dreams. Keep expressing, as I am sure you know it is a process or path. I do believe in the truth of cause and effect, meaning "karma" on both a practical level and a more metaphysical level. Same same, with the old thought, "you reap what you sow." So much suffering has been put in motion. It hurts to understand too much, but it is also a cause for action and that can be "good".I am not sure we will see it end in our lifetimes, but every positive thought and action is important...ya's know, the ripple effect ! Tashi De Leh (Tibetan for good luck and good day and bless you on your way to enlightenment) Still one day at a time here.

JCONRAD: Interesting insights. I'm glad the article mentions the role that Hollywood plays in glamourizing war ("heroism") because it works as a subliminal marketing tool that dovetails with the aims, agenda and initiatives of the likes of the Carlyle group and the weapons' builders it represents. This is the HEART of human depravity, to consciously design war FOR profit. In one of Arthur Miller's plays a father who puts profit before honesty designs a flawed part for military planes. In the end, his own son dies in such a vehicle. Karma is not always so efficient, but rest assured, it finds ways to come back around; and karma, as a universal law, is not limited by the span of our paltry lifetimes... NONE of these that have taken advantage of others' pain and maiming for personal gain will get to appreciate these actions for long. The "interest" on this kind of debt is worse than that related in the previous article as per the unscrupulous "lending laws" which give usury a new 21st century facelift.

The article sensationalizes business as usual. Where did the initial motivation come from in going after Charlene Corley? Most likely from a competitor. Lockheed Martin never forgets who they are working for - indeed. The bulk of their work is in making sure they can bill relentlessly. When you have this much power and force you just put civil servants on your payroll, make sure the right people are elected, no one will say a thing about fraud. Poor Corley was railroaded and then prosecuted by the very purveyors of fraud.
Keep your head up though kids, as an American you have some opportunity to muscle in on these bastards, you deserve access to good health care and so forth too. Just keep your nose clean, don't buy any "10 foot Kawasaki jets." and remember your enemy and how effective peace is at defeating them.

Thanks to a kind Mr.Turpinseed for presenting a pure slice of the truth. We have a nation of so-called "journalists" unwilling to accurately tell a simple but dark story. Cheney lied to begin a military aggression that would be a war crime under various treaties and international law. He has personally profited from his past and present connections to the military oil complex that is robbing the taxpayer via warfare. A $Trillion to date. Some estimates put the invasion and occupation related Iraqi death toll at a million. Naive or confused American soldiers have suffered death, lost limbs, brain injuries and PTSD for a lifetime. Iraqi children have died under our bombing, by our bullets or due to deteriorating health conditions. Some will die later from depleted uranium exposure. What price to put on all the lives and pain? This is what they call "Iraqi Freedom". And all for the profits of the warmongers and oil barons.

One can only wonder...who is Dick Cheney ? A Cheyenne I once knew said, "I really feel sorry for white people. They don't really have a culture. They will do anything for money. And there is the key. Cheney and all the complicit conspirators are money junkies. Anything goes. They are empty spectral souls wandering the earth looking for a fix. They are the undead and feel nothing. They gibber, squeal, drool and dream of their next war petrodollar. Their hearts are an unspeakable union of greed and death sustained by an infinite series of deceptions polluting the world. And the nation watches dumbfounded while mumbling standardized meaningless phrases about the War on Terror, Support the Troops and God Bless America. The lies never seem to end.

Yes, it was William Proxmire that started the "Golden Fleece Award." What a legislator! He was one of only two Senators that voted against war powers for LBJ, and he ran for office based on his own money and just getting out to talk to his constituents. We could use a couple of dozen Proxmires today.

What is irritating about the Cheney story is that it has not had much exposure despite the fact that it is true, he has been profiteering from the war. He is also the primary neo con in the government that had the plan developed in the late 1990's by PNAC, his neo con think tank. This guy ios evil personified. And now he wants airstrikes on Iran.

Like buying air for your tires.

Preditor: The American Corporation and the Sociopaths who run them. Make a nice book title, don't you think?

why don't we just revoke the corporate charter of Halliburton and the likes?
http://www.poclad.org
as we always could...100% american tradition

Ms. Wooten committed suicide in October, 2007 and Ms. Corley's attorney contended Corley was a victim of her deceased sister's activities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Nice to see they report on somebody who will die 2 months into the future...

Stevie Wonder - editor-in-chief

www.hardcorepolitics.com

"How pathetic is it that a small gang of war profiteers operate in virtually full view of the public, and yet no one does anything and nothing changes."

The vast majority viscerally belivee in & trust in profit, and if they were to do anything more than cluck their tongues about 'waste' or 'abuse', they would stab at the center of their own faith, which is that they can have a good life through the mechanisms demanded by profit. The only logical alternative to accepting profiteers is executing them, and few are willing to accept that as a necessity. Occasionally, an Abramoff and a Cunningham will be sacrificed to maintain an appearance that the law is not suspended in favor of illicit financial operations -- in fact, it's suspended to conceal the fact that ALL financial operations within this arrangement are illicit & murderous.

It was Wisconcin senator William Proxmire who gave the Golden Fleece Awards.

Because it is just another manifestation of capitalism (do anything to screw anyone for a dollar ideology/religion) and the capitalist pigs who have their noses buried deep in the trough, don't want anything to change.

It's Animal Farm and the Pigs run the show!

How pathetic is it that a small gang of war profiteers operate in virtually full view of the public, and yet no one does anything and nothing changes. It's like the mafia has been given free reign of the city and if you don't like it - there's a couple of new Executive Orders we'd like to show you...

Them: "Hey, look, over here - I'm stealing! See? Millions, stealing, right here!" Us: yawn...

Of course, there's a HUGE piece, and I mean P.O.S. missing from this story.

Namely, who was the DoD manager/analyst/auditor who authorized this deal in the first place? It states, "...received $455,000 to ship three machine screws costing $1.31 each to Marines in Habbaniyah, Iraq."

So who, in the DoD authorized this? And has their head rolled yet?

As I recall it was Daddy Bush and his Secretary of War, Darth Cheney, who manouvered Saddam into invading kuwait and conned the other Arab states into paying for the First Gulf Oil War. With that 'taste of money' in the NeoCons mouth it is no wonder that another war for profit is bleeding America's children and treasury. Back in FDR's day war profiteers risked hanging and now all they risk is receiving the Medal of Honor. Go figure.

Thank you, Dr. Zimmerman Robert.

Insightful, correct and all that needs to be understood.

"War Profiteering is the reason for war."

War is the reason for the war -- Michael Ledeen infamously said, and forthrightly, that the US "has to take some crummy little country & throw it up against the wall just to prove we mean business" -- the typical prescription of the neocowards.

Under capitalism, profiteering is patriotic.

War Profiteering is the reason for war.

I predict nothing. I am simply quoting the article.

Hello Waiguoren, are you predicting Ms. Wooten's suicide?

All in all, not very good business. They could have shipped each item separately & tripled their profit!

"Ms. Wooten committed suicide in October, 2007... "

Talk about staying one step ahead of the posse.

Check out this book for Background on how we got here:
America, Inc.: Who Owns and Operates the United States. New York: Dell Publishing, 1971. 424 pages. by Mintz, Morton and Cohen, Jerry S.

Morton Mintz, a Washington Post reporter, and Jerry S. Cohen, former chief counsel of the Senate Antitrust and Monopoly Subcommittee, teamed up in the 1970s to write two blockbuster books -- America, Inc. and Power, Inc. -- on corruption in the U.S. Both cover the same territory: bribery, profiteering, special-interest lobbying, politicians, regulatory agencies, monopolies, concentration of power in the media, white collar crime, lack of accountability, government and corporate secrecy, influence of big money on elections, the national security state, and self-dealing in the professions (doctors, dentists, accountants, banks, unions, insurance). Both also use the same technique of making a point my naming names and giving specific examples culled from news accounts and other sources.

Remember, this was the 1970s when corruption wasn't an issue in America. Two decades later the infrastructure is collapsing, the economy is sick, and the shrinking middle class is wondering how their kids will afford an education and be able to buy their own homes. The dollar value of the examples provided in these books provokes barely a yawn these days -- after the deficits, savings and loan scandals, junk bonds, and golden parachutes of the 1980s. But Mintz and Cohen saw it coming, and it's not their fault that no one addressed the issue while there was still time.
ISBN unavailable

Defense contracting fraud has a way of catching on. If Haliburton is seen as getting away with it, then maybe others can as well. They know only a small fraction of companies will be caught, it might be worth the risk. After all, it is a big government with lots of paper work, it is sort of like cheating on your taxes, it is the American thing to do.

However, you have to be well connected like Haliburton and Cheney to get away with defrauding the government out of $300 million, like Haliburton recently did in the last few years. Those companies that do not have Republican Congress members fronting for them will be caught and shown to be the traitors that they are. Only the well connected traitors go free.

Thanks, Tom. Peace is nonprofitable. Who would invest time or treasure for peace. Maybe someone who has just lost a son or daughter for war?

Well done, but incomplete. Never forget that the two wars, combined with the tax breaks combined from the lowering of both estate taxes as well as taxes on dividends and capital gains, the Bush family and heirs stand to make out just fine, thank you, from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bush Pere, remember, has a lovely feather bed with The Carlyle Group, which used to be focused on just the defense industry but has branched off into being a fully fledged hedge fund…you know, one of those shadowy private corporations that are anything but transparent. No one knows what they own or how much. But the Bush children and grandchildren stand to gain quite a nice inheritance. Can anyone say Paris Hilton? Well, she will probably feel quite inferior considering the size of the Bush swag bag.

And others in this Administration? Little Donny Rumsfeld and Monsanto, strong-arming the world's farmers into having to pay for Monsanto's genetically modified seeds, whether the farmer bought them or they simply blew onto the poor schnook's acreage and just grew.

But why stop there? These guys and gals specialize in this kind of corruption, not seen since the days of Warren G. Harding and the Grant Administration. They've all taken not just the cream off the top but the top two-thirds of the entire milk bottle.

Still, a great article. Thanks.

Well done, but incomplete. Never forget that the two wars, combined with the tax breaks combined from the lowering of both estate taxes as well as investments, the Bush family and heirs stand to make out just fine, thank you, from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bush pere, remember, has a lovely feather bed with The Carlyle Group, which used to be focused on just the defense industry but has branched off into being a fully fledged hedge fund...you know, one of those shadowy private corporations that are anything but transparent. No one knows what they own or how much. But the Bush children and grandchildren stand to gain quite a nice inheritance. Can anyone say Paris Hilton? Well, she would probably feel quite inferior considering the size of the Bush swag bag.

And others in this Administration? Little Donny Rumsfeld and Monsanto, strong-arming the world's farmers into having to pay for Monsanto's genetically modified seeds, whether the farmer bought them or they simply blew onto the poor schnook's acreage and just grew.

But why stop there? These guys and gals specialize in this kind of corruption, not seen since the days of Warren G. Harding and the Grant Administration. They've all taken not just the cream off the top but the top two-thirds of the entire milk bottle.

Still, a great article. Thanks.

The honeyed drops of graft always fly upward.

Wishfullthinker is correct. The article plainly states that such small items are given no personal attention by DoD staff. And that makes sense, to some degree. If its needed at the front to save American lives, let's get it there asap! Support our troops! Rah!

The sisters figured out how to twist the system to their advantage, that's all. Too bad we don't have Mike Mansfield around anymore to hand out some of his notorious "Golden Fleece" awards.

all hail the tirelessly deflating dollar.