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TechnoratiBritsh MPs visiting the Pentagon to discuss America's stance on Iran and Iraq were shocked to be told by one of President Bush's senior women officials: "I hate all Iranians."
And she also accused Britain of "dismantling" the Anglo-US-led coalition in Iraq by pulling troops out of Basra too soon.
The all-party group of MPs say Debra Cagan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Coalition Affairs to Defence Secretary Robert Gates, made the comments this month.
The six MPs were taken aback by the hardline approach of the Pentagon and in particular Ms Cagan, one of Mr Bush's foreign policy advisers.
She made it clear that although the US had no plans to attack Iran, it did not rule out doing so if the Iranians ignored warnings not to develop a nuclear bomb.
It was her tone when they met her on September 11 that shocked them most.
The MPs say that at one point she said: "In any case, I hate all Iranians."
Although it was an aside, it was not out of keeping with her general demeanour.
"She seemed more keen on saying she didn't like Iranians than that the US had no plans to attack Iran," said one MP. "She did say there were no plans for an attack but the tone did not fit the words."
Another MP said: "I formed the impression that some in America are looking for an excuse to attack Iran. It was very alarming."
Tory Stuart Graham, who was on the ten-day trip, would not discuss Ms Cagan but said: "It was very sobering to hear from the horse's mouth how the US sees the situation."
Ms Cagan, whose job involves keeping the coalition in Iraq together, also criticised Britain for pulling out troops.
"She said if we leave the south of Iraq, the Iranians will take it over," said one MP.
Another said: "She is very forceful and some of my colleagues were intimidated by her muscular style."
The MPs also saw Henry Worcester, Deputy Director of the Office of Iranian Affairs, who said he favoured talks with Iran.
The Pentagon denied Ms Cagan said she "hated" Iranians.
"She doesn't speak that way," said an official.
But when The Mail on Sunday spoke to four of the six MPs, three confirmed privately that she made the remark and one declined to comment. The other two could not be contacted.
© 2007 The Daily Mail
168 Comments so far
Show AllExellent Analysis Enterick, as always. I first thought it was a four-legged modified Radiation symbol designed to function as an iron cross on top of a Luftwaffe Me-262 fighter pilots jacket.......
You know the drill, award her the medal before she does the Iranian nuke mission, since odds are, she's not coming back....
Whoah! What a sight! Just one more of Cheny's Gestopo Stormtroppers I guess......
On December 29, 1944 Admiral William F. Halsey publicly stated: "If I had my way there would not be a Jap yellow bastard alive." Americans do tend to avoid nuanced thinking, and the pit bulls we hire to articulate the national zietgeist are no more civil today than they have ever been.
I am still trying to figure out what IT is? She could be the most flaming transvestite, I could care less. It's her speech that's obnoxious, but combined with that outfit, the Hitleresque cross, and the face, I was like whoah - what a freak.
I see a good many feel the same as I do on here.I was shocked when I saw her photo,kinda like Ann Coulter eh?.
Too bad she wasn't made to give an on-air apology and then a one-way ticket back to her own country but then,the terrorist regime in the whitehouse would likely approve of these comments she's made and give her yet another medal.Wonder if this is the clearest yet signal that Iran is indeed on the next ticket for annilation.The American people will just stand by,allow it to happen and come out saying "Support our Troops".Shucks,why don't we just simply declare the start of WW 3 and be done with it rather than one country at a time.This way we'll give Mr.Shrub his dream of "The United States of the World".There is a reason WHY Cagan said this and it wasn't likely of her own volition.
Well, I hate all republicans, neo-cons and almost everything to do with religion, but I think I'm still a lot more rational and Christian than all that predatory lying trash.
We should put up a moument to the Axis of Evil in the USA, could be just like the Vietnam War Memorial but would have to be a lot larger for a hell of a lot more names. From Reagan to all the Bushes, Rush, Clouter, 97 % of religious and corporate leaders and and and and and and . . . .
What it the main difference between the FBI + CIA and the KGB?
Ans: the signatures on the paychecks are different
Feels kinda better to vent, but may contribute to global warming? Sorry, but unfortunately since they killed democracy, ain't much more to do.
ug what the hell is that in the picture? wait! i know! it's a Cylon...they found earth before the Galactica did! but, aren't they supposed to look cute?
the rips on her appearance no doubt are also caused by the hateful remarks she made. if this was a peace activist, we might say wow she's kind of eccentric but hey whatever.
Ok, so she got the civilian version of the commanders cross Order of Merit (im guessing this because of the green band to which the cross is attached, which marks the civilian version of that medal).
Now im wondering, why was she given this?
This sounds like as good a guess as any:
"The Commander's Cross Order of Merit awarded to Debra Cagan is the least the Hungarian officials do to the person probably most responsible for bringing the CIA's captured barefooted Afghans, Iranians and other such characters to the newly constructed prisons in Hungary.
Could it be that buxom Debra saw to it that those prisons were built under a USAID grant to Hungary and thats the reason for the Cross?."
But id like to know, in fact, why she was given this.
Common Dreams should be ashamed of itself, Halloween is weeks away yet.
To me, a person's appearance is not relevant.
coco
As a child, I always liked Wally Cox, (Mr. Peepers) I thought he was such a sweet man. He reminds me a little of the man I married :) He's a scientist too.
Yes I can understand commenting on appearance, but mixed in with that should be some comment about what the person thinks or does...
Reading the comments I felt that some posters were expressing prejudices about women and homosexuals. I think people should just examine their own thinking on this. I am not going to scold anyone in particular and they would probably deny it anyway.
There is too much negative stereotyping for me...
Okay, so she's an Iranian-hating Jew. That explains her bigotry/racism/hatred. I've met Iranians, and they weren't demonic or hateful. I'm wondering why Israelis/Jews are so afraid of Iran, especially when Israel has 200 or so nukes? It sounds to me like the Israelis are always shopping for war like the present U.S. administration.
Check out the various scandals, profiteering, etc. surrounding the Hungarian PM:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferenc_Gyurcs%C3%A1ny%27s_speech_in_Balaton...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferenc_Gyurcs%C3%A1ny
Looks like the ruling mobs of many countries gravitate toward one another. One big happy mob family?
colleen....
i agree that it is typical that comments are often made of women's appearance and i am with you that it irritates me...in this case, if a man wore a bright red latex side zipped suit with a huge cross dangling from his neck, i would make comments...
i think dick cheney's facial features match his dark and evil heart...
poor nancy kulp finally came out of the closet at age 67 and died at 70...she was made to look unattrative to men not unlike wally cox was made out to look unattractive to women....
back to debra and her 'i hate all iranians'...it reminds me of an army documentary i watched many years ago...the soldiers were marching in formation and in that sing-songy manner they were chanting 'i want to kill an iranian!'
The Commander's Cross Order of Merit awarded to Debra Cagan is the least the Hungarian officials do to the person probably most responsible for bringing the CIA's captured barefooted Afghans, Iranians and other such characters to the newly constructed prisons in Hungary.
Could it be that buxom Debra saw to it that those prisons were built under a USAID grant to Hungary and thats the reason for the Cross?.
Click on the image, and you'll be sent to an article explaining the cross ceremony.
"On the occasion of the National Day, Ambassador Simonyi presented the Officer's Cross Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary upon Ms. Eva Pusta and Mike Haltzel, and the Commander's Cross Order of Merit to Debra Cagan." Here's more data on the cross, its recipients, a better view of it, etc:
http://www.keh.hu/main.php?fm=11&am=1&l=e&hir=&keres=%20.
Click on the image, and you'll be sent here:
http://www.huembwas.org/News2/56Emb2005.htm
"On the occasion of the National Day, Ambassador Simonyi presented the Officer's Cross Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary upon Ms. Eva Pusta and Mike Haltzel, and the Commander's Cross Order of Merit to Debra Cagan."
Here's more data on the cross, its recipients, a better view of it, etc:
http://www.keh.hu/main.php?fm=11&am=1&l=e&hir=&keres=%20.
This crap about the real lesson of this thread being prejudice against women is ridiculous. I don't care if she is a woman, man, animal, parasite, whatever! If you go to UN and say blatantly racist, geocentric, and downright hateful shit like she did, you lose all credibility and the right to be taken seriously. Please! If it was a man, we would all be taking our aggression out on him exactly the same way, especially if he was dressed like Flash Gordon or something. We can all use a little dark humor in situations like this. Keep your militant feminism to yourself please. As a proud feminist myself, I would not be caught dead using this sad excuse for a woman with otherwise very meaningful power as an example of how we need to respect women more.
you all need to at least skim through the posts, the posts are better than the articles a great deal of the time.
use the yellow highlight tool.
THIS post dealt with the cross yesterday.
balakirev October 2nd, 2007 5:35 pm
I looked up debra cagan on google.
The picture of her (reproduced in the above article) was taken when she received Hungary's Commander's Cross Order of Merit during the Hungarian Embassy's celebration of Nation Day. (It celebrates the 1956 anti-Soviet uprising.)
The maltese cross on her chest is probably the Commander's Cross.
Wow, I honestly can't recall many women in the public scope with a more masculine phenotype. Certainly no shortage of testosterone there...
A thin slice, to be sure, but I wonder if her "muscular tone" is a psychological response to a lifetime of being gawked at.
The Rev, to whom is that message addressed? American Dominionists?
To quibble, what she is wearing seems most like a hybrid of the Cross pattée of the Knights Templar and the Maltese Cross of the Knights Hospitaller. Closer inspection suggests it is probably the Hungarian Order of Merit that is supported by online reporting.
Regardless of the reality, the impression left by the image is quite jarring especially when juxtaposed to intemperate speech
This is one of the more funny threads in CD for a while. Thanks balakirev for the cross description. I at first glance thought she looked like a new-wave christian crusader (we can take back the holy lands no that we have polyeurathane!)
Isn't it wonderfull how quick and easy it is to ridicule women for their appearance?
Oh, and Only Those That Help The RAPTURE Along Will Earn A Place In Heaven! Go Crusades!
Check out the history of the Iron Cross she is wearing (that someone said is an award from Hungary) at Wikipedia (search Iron Cross) -- and when reading, click the link to the Teutonic Knights. Among other things, in its original context, it is awarded only in wartime and the Teutonic Knights were founded as a crusading military order. This person was costumed for a reason and to convey a message -- all scary.
It's Ann Coulter without the blond wig right?
Catseyes,
This intemperate gaff by Cagan is sypmtomatic of just how little diplomacy means to the Bush Administration. Nothing more, nothing less.
DMIA: Yep Aafke, I read that article and the followup comments. I was disgusted. How can anyone support the hatred that comes of the mouth of the current President of Iran? They make up all kinds of excuses, like "he is misunderstood" or "he has been mistranslated".
ENTERIK: You consistantly exaggerate what Ahmadinejad has said and you exaggerate the degree to which he is defended. I think you are deliberately obtuse and hyperbolic. People are responding to your intemperate propaganda not defending Amadinejad. They are trying to render a more accurate and precise picture of reality. I have no interest in defending Ahmadinejad or his words but I will not fall prey to the demonizing metonymy that seeks to enable an ill-advised attack upon Iran.
DMIA: I actually looked up his remarks about wiping Israel off the face of the map AS PUBLISHED BY THE IRANIAN NEWS SERVICE, over which I'm sure he has control. He has not been misunderstood or mistranslated.
ENTERIK: Then the relevant reference and attribution of translation should be at your fingertips. I have also investigated this quote that seems to be the cynosure of your own very personal existenz. According to Juan Cole the Ahmadinejad quote in question is translated as follows...
"he Imam said that this regime occupying Jerusalem (een rezhim-e ishghalgar-e qods) must [vanish from] from the page of time (bayad az safheh-ye ruzgar mahv shavad)."
This is not a call for Nazi-style extermination, it is a call for regime change and an end to the occupation of Jerusalem. One need not agree on the sentiments of such a statement just as one need not exaggerate its intent. Regardless, Iran cannot meaningfully attack Israel, there are other countries in the way, so the logistics are prohibitive. Additionally, Iran has not attacked another country for over 100 years. Even at the time of Khomenei's most pitched anti-Israeli rhetoric, both the US and Israel were sending arms to Iran and Iran was sending oil to Israel. Finally, I must ask, why is it that every time Ahmadinejad is mentioned, you seem to dredge up the Israel quote and ride it like a pony, playing cowboy with the facts and generally act as if this isolated incident should be the primary factor in determining US foreign policy towards Iran?
DMIA: Still, I don't think that means all Iranians feel the same way. I think the problem is that both the President of Iran AND the President of the US are incompetent.
ENTERIK: On this we can generally agree but the imbalance of your prior statements discount the impact of this moderating assertion. You are correct in asserting that there is substantial opposition to Ahmadinejad's antics. This opposition comes from reformists of the type that supported Khatami and give him trouble with parliament. This opposition also comes from conservatives, even the Supreme Jurisprudence himself, not only for his outlandish statements regarding the Showa and regime change in Israel, but also for liberal aspects of his social agenda. In reality, this former mayor of Tehran is the American equivalent of the Secretary of the Interior. Most had expected him to confine his efforts to domestic economic policy and are fed up with his international grandstanding.
However, I do not see the Bush Administration as incompetent. I see them as very competent and ruthless. No holds are barred in the pursuit of the PNAC foreign policy doctrine. The destruction is intentional and profitable. The goals that lie before them are as clear as the shadow of a falling tree. One precedes the other.Their intentions are as bald as the copse they intend to clear cut. They will tell you there are gypsy moths in those trees, but what they really want is the fire wood.
What are you staring at? The White House says she doesn't talk that way. It didn't happen, people. Move away from the newspaper. Nothing to see here. Even if she said it, it's a free country. She's allowed to have an opinion, isn't she?
I hate all bigots.
I know they can be intelligent in their way, and are often kind to pets, family members, and friends of their choosing. But I really don't want to spend any time with them, and think they should be barred from any sort of public service or media position.
One of the ways we got in this mess we're in is by tolerating the intolerant. The fascists love that about liberals - laughing up their sleeves as they denounce us as fascists for denouncing their hateful lies. It's a major part of their media strategy.
I agree all this rip on her appearance is gratuitous and mean. That being said, combined with the speech, she does look like a nazi bitch from hell.
But like someone said, lets focus on what she said, that is the repulsive thing here. "I hate all iranians" I mean, WTF. Youd expect to hear that from the mouth of some extremist nazi goon caught in the middle of a war like in ex-yougoslavia where someone would say "i hate all muslims" or "I hate all serbians", not an official from the pentagon. I guess she just needs more PR training before they let her loose from the leash again. Does anyone know why she got that "Commander's Cross Order of Merit" instead of that other "Officer's Cross Order of Merit" ? What was her "outstanding" work that warranted this? If anyone find outs more info about her please post it.
I emailed this to Keith Olbermann at Countdown to see if he will look into this. If anyone in the MSM will follow up on it, it's Keith.
It's possible that Cagan doesn't really hate all Iranians. It may be she's only saying what she needs to say to get appointed as UN Ambassador. John Bolton left big shoes to fill, after all.
That "old Europe" phrase achieved some resonance after it was spread along Limbaugh/Drudge/Fox vectors. Another one of their little mind tricks, propaganda which works wonders on the simpler segments.
But one of Bush's other chief strategies has been to keep people wondering whether he's insane and incompetent or just purely ruthless (see Hanlon's Razor). It's a proven to be good cover. Imagine if Bush's image were untarnished by insanity, incompetence, rudeness, or the bizarre. He'd have basically a singular character trait: sheer ruthlessness, and people would galvanzie more cleanly against that.
If we lived under rule of law, which we don't, it would give him an additional ace in the hole if the law ever caught up with him: he could make an insanity plea.
coco
Before the war with Iraq the Bush administration was dividing Europe, calling the part that opposed the invasion "old Europe" Now they are insulting some of the British and saying they are "dismantling" the British US coalition.
Bush and hsi administration are incompetent ..but they have something as a strategy with these insults. Cagan was called in to be offensive, in the same way that Rumsfeld was insulting to Europeans before the Iraq invasion.
This might be for Israeli benefit but it is probably to coalesce some group around their strategy to attack Iran imo. They are burning bridges (which is stupid) but that is part of their "diplomacy." They divide groups.
This is garbage:
"Saila, here many would chime in and say "Kill the jews - they are a bunch low-life scum - there was no Holocaust - kill the jews!" That's what would happen."
Criticism, no condemnation of Israel is merged with the spectre of anti-semiticism to silence outrage. This foreign policy advisor is a classic NeoCon and what do you suppose her agenda is? On "Democracy Now" last night Sy Hersh--who is Jewish, speculated that HClinton supports a NeoCon agenda because of NY Jewish-American money and issues. As someone else pointed out, that when it comes to Israel, liberal Jews become NeoCons. Think of this, when it comes to Likud Israel and upholding the Right-wing agenda, the fanatical Religious Right anticipating Armegeddon, the NeoCon Right and the Democrats are all on the same page. What is wrong with this picture? This is our government. This is our foreign policy. This is our money being spent. These are our soldiers dying and killing. We need to be able to talk about this --especially since those war drums are getting deafening again.
QUOTE The Pentagon denied Ms Cagan said she "hated" Iranians.
"She doesn't speak that way," said an official.UNQUOTE
Instant lies - Statements from official spokespeople for the Whitehouse.
What would you have to do to get the truth from these guys?
Hmm, I am sure someone noted the iron cross?
Imagine the hysteria if anyone were to say, "I hate all Jews", Ms Cagan. What was that again about our foreign policy and the burden on the US taxpayer and the US military?
What goes around, comes around.
for info on what to do, go to: www.safenow.org
does anyone know about these 'terror exercises' going on next week? see yahoo news 11.am
Look at her folks, she's nothing but a d-bag, I mean who the hello would go around looking like that (disgusting) and putting down a race which tells you how much she must of gotten teased in school for being such a friggin loser, I hope that pig in the pic reads all these letters and realize what a goul & a scumbag looks like from a photograph
What she said was stupid, given her job incredibly stupid, so business as usual for the Bush administration, how is when you think you've heard it all they always come up with another level, I thought I wouldn't be suprised by anything this administration does, but yet again they pull another one out of the hat. It all seems like a very bad movie, terrible unrealistic script, it's day like these I feel I must be dreaming this can't really be happening, do you have to be professionally stupid to work in the government? How do these people get jobs?
Regarding the who hates who discussion, I would venture the opinion that most of the world hates the Bush administration, particularly the Iraqis who are experiencing their own Holocaust at their hands. As for me, I detest, loathe and abhor most of the members of the Executive branch of the federal government, and my wish is they be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and sentenced to suffer the gravest of sentences, and that goes for the previous 10 presidential administrations too.
COLLEEN
well i certainly agree with all that. especially your last sentence.........
I swear I was her client. She is one of the best dominatrix there is. What talent!
KEM PATRICK
don't go fishing........i won't have anyone to talk to...........well, yes i will, but not as funny. have fun.
coco
Aafke Janssen: if Ahmadinejad hates Jews so much why does he allow them representation in the Majlis? Why do only 20,000 Jews get their own representative there when the normal representative ratio in Iran is 1 per 50,000 people? Could it be that he is opposed to Israel, rather than Jews? It's a dangerous thought I know, but perhaps one worth considering.
In fact the Middle East has historically been a much better place for Jews than many other parts of the world. Arab countries treated Jews like second-class citizens throughout the Middle Ages, but at least they didn't persecute and massacre them like they did in Europe. Muslim countries were comparable refuges for Jews for the better part of the past 1,500 years. The modern Arab-Jewish conflict only began with the rise of Zionism in the late 19th century, and the meddling in the region by European colonial powers ever since. It was exacerbated by the aftermath of the Holocaust of course, which Arabs didn't participate in but are being made to suffer for. Something to keep in mind.
dmia: what exactly do you find objectionable about the discussion following the Zunes article? Perhaps you should do a bit of research before implying anti-Semitism on the part of anyone who attempts to seek context for Ahmadinejad's words.
For instance, the idiom "to wipe off the map" doesn't exist in Farsi. Ahmadinejad actually said "remove the regime from the pages of time," or something to that effect, and he was quoting Khomenei from 20 years earlier. Iran's official news service obviously needs to hire better translators, but that's no reason to imply intent in the President's words that simply wasn't there. You can agree or disagree with his expressed intent to achieve regime change in Israel, but implying genocidal motives to the quote is nonsensical. Neither has he "denied" the Holocaust per se; he's described it as a "myth," i.e., something that has come to be believed in a certain way and in certain interests, regardless of the facts surrounding the real events involved. I think its pretty obvious that he's playing a political game to curry favour with his fundamentalist backers and domestic voting block, and we need not take his expressed desire to speak on the behalf of oppressed European scholars seriously. But neither should we jump to conclusions that Ahmadinejad is the next Hitler because of a bad translation.
Describing something you don't like as anti-Semitic just because you don't like it is ignorant, and dangerous.
HATE is a four letter word.
I think the strongest preudice is against women and you can see that on this thread. The prejudice against women cuts across political orientation, religions and ethnicity.
Women are ciriticized for their appearance based upon prejudice about how a woman should be or behave.
....................
The question in the back of my mind is whether Debra Kagan was sent in to be offensive and why ?
I'm delighted to see I'm not the only one who on occasion strays off of the subject Heavy runner. As for Hillary, she is married to Bill Clinton and once worked for Wal-Mart, she is a US Senator and one of only 100, 99 if the toilet sex maniac quits.
Have you ever seen a dzo? Fantastic critter, and their milk makes great cheeze. My biggest worries are the dying off of the ocean's phytoplnakton, my tire pressures and the use of DU in ammunition. There may be a connection. We are what we eat according to Dr. Spock and Kavorikan, anyone care to be a beaver? ____ To save a tree of course.
Oops that word "closet" was supposed to be closest.
I will call tomorrow Aafke, I get very low long distance rates.
Clinton has about 1/3 of the Democratic support in the polls. So the candidates to her left, which is all the others, have the support of 2/3 of Democrats. The progressive vote is split, the right wing vote all goes to Clinton. 1/3 of the delegates is not enough to win the nomination. If things stayed the same as they are now Clinton would not have enough delegates to win the nomination on the first ballot, and with her high negatives, she is a bad candidate even before the Republican attack machine goes after her. And go after her they will if she gets the nomination, which must be what the Republicans want, because they are laying off her for now.
I would hope the Democratic Party would have the good sense to nominate someone else. A candidate with negatives as high as Hillary Clinton's would have a terrible time winning the general election.
kem patrick, give me a holler.
eight four five
six two six
two eight one five
Thanks a million.
your friend,
Aafke
Having had the opportunity to live in eleven different countries for a period of from 90 days, to two years, my observation was and is, we are all the same, regrdless of color or creed. During a 23 year military creer, I worked and lived closely with men of every race; we are all the same. For anyone to state "I hate all of the whatever, is shameful and racist.
I'm a white, Anglo Saxon, mix breed male. Some of my closest friends are and were black or brown. I never cared. Some were oriental, or Hawaiian, some were Mexican and Puerto Rican, I never cared. Some of the worst people I ever met or worked with, which were very few BTW, were white, black, yellow or red. I didn't care of their race, I cared because they were not the type of people I chose to associate with.
For this woman to say such a thing as is reported and if she said it, is deplorable, no matter what her position is. The fact that she fills a most important position in our government, makes it is not only deplorable but outrageous. However, with this Bush administration, who fill important posts with whomever, I am not surprised. Disguted I am, shamed I am, sad I am. Angry? Yes every day, every time I click onto Common Drems and begin to read. I don't belileve I need help yet, ____ but I'm getting there.
We are all the same, those boundry lies we see on maps really do not exist, from an aicraft or from space, there are no lines to divide us. Only governments and relegions divide us.
As for the woman's apperance, we are born with what we have. She was born ugly, or perhaps fell out of a tree on her face, but that would not be her fault. There have been, and there are, many beautiful men and wemon who are ulgy in appearance, but ware beautiful inside and no one cared of there appearance. This ones interior lack of beauty does not overcome her other attributes. That is why she is being mentally and by proxy ink, raked over the coals by many here. She deserves the ridicule.
He has a token black woman. But I guess you're right. A token tranny would be going a bit too far.
Nah. Did Hitler have a token Jew in his inner circle? Tokenism implies a desire to at least appear inclusive and tolerant of diversity even if it inwardly makes one uncomfortable (hence, no more than the token).
I don't think Bush suffers from such handicaps.
Clark Kent, maybe she's Bush's token tranny.
dmia, everyone hates Hillary Clinton because she's a lying, Bush-ass-kissing Democrap.
PJD -- You are right of course. The speculation re: Debra's trans-status is almost entirely beside the point.
I say almost, because, it would be monumentally ironic and/or hypocritical for a trans individual to be part of a regime/political party whose culture generally despises them. If true, that level of hypocrisy should raise red flags about the individual's endeavors in just about any arena. To be out, trans and belonging to a party where that's okay would signal integrity and consistency. But to be in the closet, trans and belonging to a party that typically condemns same (at least the Christian right) would suggest a lack of integrity and consistency in the individual.
That said, I can't help but think of the character Otto (Kevin Kline) in "A Fish Called Wanda" who feigns homosexual attraction to a straight man (both in the sexual and comic sense?) in order to throw the man off balance mentally so he doesn't notice or analyze inconsistencies in Otto's story and behavior.
Could Debra's agenda include a similar psy-op to throw the British MPs off balance and make them less critical of US plans to attack Iran by creating cognitive dissonance? ("OMG... what *is* this person? ... and what were they just saying about Iran?")
luv you man ;-)
She's a tranny, which fits well with the Republican party-goers and all their bizzaro sexual pecadilloes. She's a pawn in their Armageddon game. If she can piss off a faction or two in the mideast she's done her hand job for Bush. It's not what she said. It's what they're using her for. Btw, the pendant she's wearing is a Maltese Cross.
Katherine Harris was her name. Nazi b*tch.
"I hate all Iranians" says Debra Cagan who is:
-"Deputy Assistant Secretary for Coalition Affairs to Robert Gates"
-"a Foreign policy adviser whose job involves keeping the coalition in Iraq together"
What The F????
Maybe if she called them "Nappy Headed Hoes" the MSM would be all over her to resign; but for now, not a word.
by the way, what coalition in Iraq? that's her job? no wonder there's no one left, she scared the shit out of everyone.
balakirev , it's the same deal as that terrifying woman in Florida who the Commissioner of Elections or something and she rigged the election for Bush. What was her name. She then went on to do and say even more hideous things after GW won the elections and gave her a job doing something at the National Level.
Again, I ask my fellow CD discussants the question: What particular skills, talents, professional training, expertise and/or knowledge does this creature have that allows her so much power?
What qualifications did Ms.Cagan possess that placed her in a position to reorganize the ex-Soviet Georgian military (after the U.S. maneuvered "their" U.S.-trained, free-market fundamentalist into the nation's top job.)
Beyond nepotism, blind loyalty, going to ideological spin meetings, giving easy CEOs access to government funds, etc., what do any of the neocons possess in the way of expertise, etc.
In other words, what do they spend their time doing so as to deserve their huge compensation and salary packages?
For example, Rumsfeld may get an academic position at the Hoover Institute. What are his scholarly credentials? Does he possess a successful track record teaching at the collegiate level? Has he worked at any academically accredited thinktanks?
Ok, I realize Hillary is a little tricky, but why does everyone hate her so much? And whey then is she leading the Dem pack?
??
Debra Cagan looks like she'd like to strap a dildo on at night and give it to Hillary in the ass.
dmia, good point. We're not ALL of the same family, though. Not if we're Asian or American Indian, for instance.
It's a Nazi scarecrow, right? Or just another Nazi woman"er or something appropriate for Halloween. Shudder the thought that in time she will probably be promoted, get to set off some bombs her/itself and stand proudly next to the rest of the neo-cons. She hates all Iranians, how disgusting that this thing ever got a job in the government. She/It looks like death warmed over.
Robert Settgast makes a good point about President of Iran being elected by a largely uneducated segment of the Iranian population. Same thing has happened here in the US with Bush. What thinking person would have voted for Bush?
Hey Debra, 1984 called, Michael Jackson wants his coat back. PS, if you and your goons help start WWIII, you won't need to pay actors to play the zombies for your new Thriller album; radiation from fallout is free!
Is that a Nazi Iron Cross around her neck?
Here's the sad thing: All of the Jews, Christians, and Muslims in the world can trace their roots back to Abraham through his 2 sons Isaac (Jews, Christians) and Ishmael (Muslims). Shouldn't we be ashamed that we are all originally of the same family and yet we fight as we do?
dmia, I doubt that all Iranians feel that way, but unfortunately, most do. He was elected by the vast majority. They knew where he was at. He never kept his hatred of the Jews a secret. Also, the middle-east has never been known for it's all-around love of the Jews and vice-versa.
What I can't stand, also, is the hypocricy.
What can you expect from an administration that has gained power through stolen elections, is comprised of egotistical zealots ignorant of historicl events. amd supported by a group of the population that is either ignorent or too preoccupied to be informed.
Will everyone _please_ stop this sexist, appearance-ist, homophobic stuff about her appearance! In the second photo, she merely seems to be an older woman with very strong Jewish-semitic features - consistent with her surname (although she looks nothing like the long time leftist and UPFJ organizer Leslie Cagan).
Maybe some of you need to move out of your little Midwestern towns to the city where you can see what a more diverse gene pool look like!
Stay on topic - It is what she said that is repulsive!
Yep Aafke, I read that article and the followup comments. I was disgusted. How can anyone support the hatred that comes of the mouth of the current President of Iran? They make up all kinds of excuses, like "he is misunderstood" or "he has been mistranslated". I actually looked up his remarks about wiping Israel off the face of the map AS PUBLISHED BY THE IRANIAN NEWS SERVICE, over which I'm sure he has control. He has not been misunderstood or mistranslated.
Still, I don't think that means all Iranians feel the same way. I think the problem is that both the President of Iran AND the President of the US are incompetent.
dmia, I agree with you whole heartedly.
Check this out http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/09/29/4193/
It's scary.
Aafke, I know what you mean. I have seen the same stench even on Common Dreams that you are describing. I can't believe it. It is not OK to hate any group of people. That's what I am trying to say. Hitler created an environment in which hate was the correct thing to do, and we all know what happened. We must never - any of us - fall into that trap again.
dmia, I'm saying that many here keep posting these Naziistic comments (on other articles) like the "Holocaust never happened" and all sorts of hateful crap like that.
Of course it's blind bigotry to say, "I hate Iranians." But is it okay to hate the Jews?
Sadly, nothing would have happened had she said, "I hate all the Jews," Saila, and I'll tell you why.
Note that this government, when confronted with such atrocities, simply DENIES THE EXISTENCE OF THE ATROCITY (remember, she did not say it, because the Pentagon says that she did not say it.....taking right after Bush/Cheney and their NEOCON DENIAL TECHNIQUES).
And as are as THESE LOONIES are concerned once they've DENIED something that is FINAL.
At first I thougt, "How sad, SAVAK must have delivered terrible beatings and burnings and electroshocks to her face. You can still see the blackjack marks to the left of her eye."
No Aafke, that's the point. We should have learned the lessons of hate during the Holocaust. That's why it is so important not to talk about hating an entire group of people. It makes no sense. It is dangerous.
Aafke Janssen, what are you saying? I don't understand.
Dichterfreund, and ask the 6 million Jews that the Krauts killed and all the other millions that died because of them. Oh, that's right. There was no Holocaust.
Right out of a Stalag novel.
Look, why don't they play the appropriate song when members of the Bush regime appear at international events. Randy Newman's Political Science.
"Springtime for Bush & Dick Cheney" to the tune of Springtime for Hitler would be an appropriate new song. Just credit me as your muse if you write it before I do.
Lionbug49, please don't attribute something as positive and organic as a lagoon or swamp to have birthed this one or others in the Bush camp.
As for her "no plans to attack Iran" bald-faced lie, I guess people like Ray McGovern, Scott Ritter, Seymour Hersh aren't informed. I guess that's why they got Iraq right andthe Bushies have repeatedly gotten it wrong in so many big and little ways.
Wasn't she one of the people who was whipping others in Monty Python and the Holy Grail? Or was she in the mob calling to drown the woman accused of being a witch?
Which gives me an idea. Let's take all members of Bush's gang and see if they float. If they do, they are evil and should be burned at the stake. If they drown, we'll know they are good and decent people wrongly accused.
Like so many in jail. At Gitmo. Indetention camps.
dmia, unless its the Jews, of course.
Saila, here many would chime in and say "Kill the jews - they are a bunch low-life scum - there was no Holocaust - kill the jews!" That's what would happen.
Saila, I am disgusted that this woman said she hates all Iranians. I don't hate ANY Iranians. In fact, the Iranians I do know I like very much. I think you will find that most people in the US feel the same way. To make such a sweeping generalization as to hate everyone of a particular nationality, culture, or religion is hate in its purest form.
Guess what would have happened if instead she had said,"I hate all the Jews"?
"Ask Cochise. Ask Spotted Owl. Ask Sitting Bull. Ask Geronimo. Ask Leonard Peltier. Ask Oliver Pratt.
It's wrong from the beginning. Stop weeping for the myth. When we tear the lies out of our minds & the affection out of our hearts, we'll see this experiment in mass murder for what it ALWAYS HAS BEEN." - Dichterfreund
Exactly, the historical success of the American Empire has been their ability of the elites to pervasively propagate their founding myths of "life, liberty, etc." which repeated ad nauseum for over two hundred years has become far more palatable for most to believe than far more sinister reality that everything America has achieved has been borne through the rape, pillage, plunder, and enslavement of the poor, indigenous, and other so-called "undesirables, which frequently and conveniently tend to be located in "resource rich or strategically important non-white" nations.
Al Jazeera's Rageh Omar (Witness Documentries) in Iran a great film:
http://tinyurl.com/2ta9tz
Hi Kem, thanks. My number is 845-626-2815. I live on the eastern sea board and I'll call you back if you don't have good long distance. I can make all the long distance calls I want for free (in USA).
Thanks again! Aafke