Gen. Taguba Knew Scandal Went to the Top

"To refuse to pick up the fallen banner of world communism is either cowardice, ignorance, or treachery. Every putative lover of humaniity needs to ask themselves which category they fall into."

Well having two frieds that grew up in Russia under Communism, having seen it up close in a number of countries I'll go for a Republic.

I love humanity and I know with certaity I'm no physical or moral coward, I could be ignorant of some things, I'm certainly not treacherous, but I'll have to fall into that other side.

If you are right (which I'm sure you aren't) I hope you win. People and times change, but I hope we haven't in this country.

Just to change the subject..and back to the US Military. Has anyone (besides me) wondered about the timing of Retired General William Odom's sudden fatal heart attack, last month? The General had been writing and speaking out in a way unheard of from the perspective of a true insider military decision maker who had occupied among the highest level of intelligence and strategic planning. He had just come short of accusing our idiot prince and his courtiers of treason in taking the country to a disastrous war on blatant lies and destroying the US military largely for the sake of Israel's regional ambitions. Just wondering. There is a lot at stake. Even members of the elite have reason to worry.

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Bush and his NeoCons Gang have committed War Crimes and Human Rights Abuses for the last 7 years.......

NOW........they should be turned over to the International War Crimes Court in the Hauge !!!!!!!

Bush and Cheney must be IMPEACHED..........IMMEDIATELY

Bring our Troops Home.........ASAP !!!!!!!!

.

In 1917, uniquely in history, the organized Russian workers took over their society. Yes, I am talking about that same old, 'disproven' socialism of Marx, Lenin, Trotsky, etc.

I imagine that the American revolutionaries of the 18th century faced a parallel criticism that democracy had been tried and failed in Greece and Rome, and therefore history was over. I'm sure we are all glad that they were not discouraged by the cynics of their day.

The Soviet Union, it its best early years, prior to the venal nationalism of Stalin, issued a clarion call to workers sround the globe to join in a socialist world. That is a primary reason why they were so fiercely opposed by illegitimate capitalist governments everywhere. Go on e-bay and look at the Soviet 'Babalonian' paper money of ~1920. The message is unambiguous. Alas, the workers of other nations were not ready (due in no small part to the treachery of phony progressives of the time), and the revolutionary movement withered on the vine.

Dear friends, there is no other plausible solution out there! Ask around for yourself, and you will quickly find that the alternatives all amount to allowing imperialism to remain in the driver's seat. To refuse to pick up the fallen banner of world communism is either cowardice, ignorance, or treachery. Every putative lover of humaniity needs to ask themselves which category they fall into.

I went back just now and reread your post and I see that you are talking about something else. Correct?

PissantNobody June 22nd, 2008 4:55 pm

I understand you believe in Socialism, but I don't know that there has been a sucessful socialist government anywhere.

Do you know of any or are you talking about something different than Marx or the Russian version or Cuba, etc?

Pax

kgarry - I am honored by your comment, but allow me to reply.

I quote: "Are you serious? Do you know any "workers"? I'm a union worker and I can tell you that many see themselves as middle class and consider themselves conservative, pro-war, and anti-dissent. In the protests of the '60s, I was attacked by union steelworkers (N.Y.C.) and D.C. Public Works trash collectors (May Day). There is no worldwide socialist revolution (more's the pity) to which we can hitch our future. We need a more realistic plan that is attuned to today's geopolitical landscape than the same old tired, 19th century SWP and ISO true-red bullshit. (Much as I admire people like Bakunin — a tip of my hat to bakunin's username — and Fidel, different as they are.)"

OK, let's say you are right. What, then, is the solution? Ha! You will not have one, because there isn't one! I have been through this so many times that I can say that with certainty. The ONLY existing, theoretically valid formula for a world in humanitarian peace is what I have layed out in those few borrowed words. Fool yourself as long as you'd like, while you continue to vainly pressure the Imperialist vipers, or maybe ask god to intervene, but the cancer will not go away short of international proletarian socialist revolution. What you are really saying is that you have given up because of the apparent failure of communism. Maybe should shut up and listen, rather try to drag everyone else into your pre-defeated stance. "Duck and cover" is a solution? That is truly sad.

Consider that in the 1840's, when Marx was penning his famous works outlining the way forward, there was truly ZERO proletarian socialists, but by 1920, a large fraction of the world had seen a successful revolution. Given the extreme privation of the moment, sacrifice of the cream of that generation repelling the imperialist attack from all sides, and maybe a few erroneous decisions by the CP leadership, Stalin stole the mantle, and proceeded to replace the comunist ideal with a something quite different and terrible. We need to look at that period carefully, and do it better this time, but let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater! The anti-social propaganda is everywhere, and it invariably has the line that you essentially express: Be 'realistic' - it is impossible for humanity to unite. Ever. Period. End of history.

I will never buy that, nor will I ever be stupid enough to
think that the twin imperialist parties will reform, and start being good citizens of the world. They are simply not capable.

It isn't a matter of the current miserable state of society and the workers' movement, it is a matter of building something beautiful based upon the study of history. Today's American worker is deluded. To capitualte to their ignorance is hardly leadership, and has nothing to do with virtue. There is but one worthy political goal: International socialism. If you are not with it, you are ignorant or cynical. I hope it is just ignorance, because that is easier to fix, but it rather sounds like you have the worse malady. Don't give up so easily, my friend!

"If our armed forces were filled with integrity they wouldn't agree to fight. There are a few semi-good apples, that's all. Remember Watada. That's integrity."

Not hardly. And you certainly wouldn't think so if you personally were the one that had to replace him.

Another item for the Obama To Do List: Protection for whistleblowers, honest investigators, and officers of high moral character who did the right thing during this shameful period.

Imagine not responding to a subpoena? What would happen to you? If you deliberately ignored it claiming Citizens Privilege? Would they lock your rear end up? You bet they would. Count on it. Yet Bush/Cheney Inc. routinely ignore subpoenas from Congress. And they get away with it. The Democratic House of Reps just accept Bush's executive privilege as a means by which to break the law and violate the U.S. Constitution? Is there any prosecution for that? Do the Democrats impeach for this violation? OF COURSE NOT! Impeachment is OFF THE TABLE. It's off the friggin' table.
_

Nancy Pelosi, Stenny Hoyer, etc., piddle on the U.S. Constitution. General Tquba is but more evidence of what we have known and had evidence of years: that the Bush/Cheney gang is the most worthy administration in the history of the United States for impeachment, removal and or imprisonment, and prosecution for war crimes. Yet Saint Obama is opposed to impeachment! What the hell Democrats?
_

And look at the recent FISA/spying victory the Pelosi Mob handed to BushCo? What more proof do Democrats need to understand that their party WILL DO ANYTHING, violate any sacred trust, violate any provision, do everything necessary to win the grand prize of the White House? Somehow, we the people, are to remain patient, because the Democrats game plan is to win the White House and both chambers of Congress so that they can fix it all. And that, my fellow countrymen, is not going to happen. Pelosi's stabbing the Democratic electorate in the back is but the first phase of what she has in store for you. So go ahead. Vote for Obama, but order a case of political KY Jelly as his victory will bring about a new screwing like you have never seen before. This is precisely the time for a strong visible other than Corporate Party candidacy. Run Ralph. Run!
_

And finally, the people in uniform, the General Taquba's of the world were bound by the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) where it demands that unlawful orders be not followed. Where were you Mr. Taquba when you knew your commander-in-chief was committing said crimes? Ah! I know. You were just like Nancy Pelosi, protecting your position and currying favor and power. You, sir, too are guilty, just like your commander-in-chief.

Robert Settgast June 21st, 2008 6:58 pm ...I get the "blame". May I ask what you were doing at the time and what do you suggest we do now?

"There will be justice in Athens when those who are not injured are as outraged as those who are." -- Thucydides

It's real easy to identify the individuals in the US military leadership that are honest and honorable: they're the ones who get fired.

To Kitaj June 21 8:47 pm:

Excellent post. All those experiencing their first Obamagasms will insure, I fear, four or eight more years of Clintonesque triangulation and side-stepping to the Right (as in bowing before AIPAC, etc.) Of course, Obama will disaapoint many of these first-time voters, who will age into either "Reagam (D)s" or disillusioned citizens who have washed their hands of politics.

To Poet June 21 8:52 pm:

Yes! And one or two of the fired Attornmeys General, like David Iglesius. To me, that is the kind of "reaching across the aisle" I can stomach. Not fawning prostrate before every fuckin' church you pass, kowtowing before the Zionist lobby, and taking your marching orders from the upper floors of Wall Street!

To PissantNobody June 21 9:08 pm, who wrote:

"Workers to power! Build the party of world socialist revolution!"

Are you serious? Do you know any "workers"? I'm a union worker and I can tell you that many see themselves as middle class and consider themselves conservative, pro-war, and anti-dissent. In the protests of the '60s, I was attacked by union steelworkers (N.Y.C.) and D.C. Public Works trash collectors (May Day). There is no worldwide socialist revolution (more's the pity) to which we can hitch our future. We need a more realistic plan that is attuned to today's geopolitical landscape than the same old tired, 19th century SWP and ISO true-red bullshit. (Much as I admire people like Bakunin -- a tip of my hat to bakunin's username -- and Fidel, different as they are.)

And, finally, to Doom n Gloom June 22 7:06 am:

I'm afraid I can't prove you wrong. I'm afraid we can only "duck and cover." Oh, there'll be little positive blips on the graph showing the decline of Amerika into a totalitarian, fascist, hollow "empire" before it finally crumbles, as all empires do. The time for change is passed; the course set by Truman and Eisenhower, post WWII, while still showing some of the promise of FDR here and there, guaranteed America's decline. In striving to become the world's supreme military power, we have squandered our ethics, our morality, our treasury, our post-WWII good will. We could have worked, hand-in-hand, with our anti-fascist allies around the world: Mao, Ho Chi Minh, the Soviets. We could have lived up to our declared principles and assisted post-colonial struggles for independence: IndoChina, Cuba, Indonesia, the African continent. Too late, too late, Eisenhower saw what he had helped create: a mushrooming military-industrial complex in control of the government instead of the other way around, all in the name of fighting some mythical, monolithic world communism threat.

What a shame. When my retirement plan (aka Powerball) kicks in, me and the alley cats are all headed to Cuba (if Raul hasn't totally screwed things up by then.)

Doom n Gloom June 22nd, 2008 7:06 am -- 'Arvy, this is a dog fight for dominance.'

It certainly should be. From my perspective, however, it appears more like a pack of wolves herding a flock of sheep, only a few of whom even seem to understand the true nature of their predicament. Most seem to insist on 'working within the system' established by the wolf pack and telling each other that there's no other viable option.

I haven't given up, but there are limits on what any 'outsider' can possibly do in the circumstances. I think I see some growing awareness here and there amongst the flock, but awareness alone isn't going resolve their collective dilemma.

Our problems to bringing about any serious change in our government are with the "Blue Pill" people.I talk with them everyday and try to bring them around to a little reality. I am having very little success.
They like it in the Matrix and they not coming out without a fight.

Impeach! Strike! Frog march them out! Beware there are Traitors in the House!

Arvy June 21st, 2008 12:49 pm
"The options for any effective countermeasures against the "New Order" are very rapidly being foreclosed. In fact, my own pessimism tells me that it's already too late to do anything except "duck and cover". Please prove me wrong!"

Arvy, this is a dog fight for dominance. There is no quitting against Fascism. Quitting only makes the situation worse. My observation that an openly criminal president cannot be rendered from power by the Constitution is deeply troubling and indicates the corruption and complicity of U.S. political leadership. The job falls on the shoulders of some of the people as is almost always the case, the rest are leaches.

The entire relationship between the US government and its people is misunderstood. The government is your gaolers.

They are here to keep you in your mindset cells, and lock you in solitary or hard labor if you mind strays too far from TV pap. Your prison thought police are the media guardians, from whom correct opinion is blared out from twenty four hours a day.

Automatic programs monitor your reading habits, internet traffic, spending and travel habits. The system will extract life from your body as you work till you break down in the military or menial workforce. If female, you are a breeder for the next generation of cheap slaves. No abortions or contraception allowed.

Good education and health care is for the very wealthy. Childhood undernourishment and rough house for the poor. Escape through drugs is both profited from and punished. Once a slave breaks down it is left on a scrap heap with no support or health care.

The extremely rich maintain themselves by money manipulation, echoed down the power hierarchy, involving wars and war machines to help investments along. So far none of them seem to be taking any hurt from the pains of their slaves and victims.

In 2003, when the White House kept insisting that the "detainees" were NOT "prisoners of war", I predicted that it was so they would eventually be able to justify torture and violations of the Geneva Conventions by using word games.

Never once did I have any doubt that torture would eventually be exposed, and that the it would eventually come out that the orders came from those very same people that insisted on playing the word games.... namely Cheney and Rumsfeld.

In any case, U.S. Military Law as ratified by Congress STILL made any sort of abuse or torture illegal regardless of where it was carried out by agents or soldiers of the U.S., even if we turned the detainees over to friendly governments for "rendition"... regardless of whether the detainees were military or civilian.

See "Joint Forces Regulation for the Treatment of Enemy Prisoners of War, Retained Personnel, Civilian Internees and Other Detainees", which SPECIFICALLY places responsibility for any mistreatment at the feet of the Secretary of Defense.

By refusing to prosecute these offenses, the Democratic congressional leadership is equally as guilty of the crimes.

This is a developing story. More on torture here by Chris Floyd:

http://www.chris-floyd.com/content/view/1543/135/

Very timely.

If any readers haven't seen Seymour Hersh's story on Taguba in The New Yorker, it's here:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/06/25/070625fa_fact_hersh

Key quote:

"A few weeks after his report became public, Taguba, who was still in Kuwait, was in the back seat of a Mercedes sedan with Abizaid. Abizaid's driver and his interpreter, who also served as a bodyguard, were in front. Abizaid turned to Taguba and issued a quiet warning: 'You and your report will be investigated.'

'I wasn't angry about what he said but disappointed that he would say that to me,' Taguba said. 'I'd been in the Army thirty-two years by then, and it was the first time that I thought I was in the Mafia.' "

JH (10:07) - Obama is SUPPORTING retroactive immunity. He's already sold out. Read this WaPo article:

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/06/20/obama_supports_fisa_...

You write, "Let's hope the Senate can correct the flaws in this bill before it is approved ..."

- I'm afraid there's zero chance of that. It will be approved as is by the Senate next week.

The fascists who run the utterly corrupt system here have those of us who have awakened to the truth in an excruciatingly frustrating position. As long as the fascists control the opinions of the majority of the populace--and they do, nothing will change, and things will only get worse. Unfortunately there is little reason to believe that conditions are favorable now for the growth of the sort of largescale movement necessary to overthrow the fascist capitalist regime and replace it with a truly representative social democracy of the sort enjoyed by people to our North and in Europe. Heroic individuals like Taguba will always have their reputations dragged in the mud by the fascist propaganda apparatus. Meanwhile the fascists will continue to concentrate wealth in the top 1% and use the US military as their international and national pinkerton guards.

I believe the Senate has still to approve the FISA bill. At least I hope that is the case, and that Sen. Obama will at least try, as promised, to strip the retroactive immunity from the bill. The House's passage -- specifically Nancy Pelosi's support of it -- is also an effort to immunize themselves (the Congressional leadership, that is) for their own culpability and foreknowledge of the sins for which this bill grants its absolution. Democratic leadership was informed via their various committee positions (and sworn to silence) of the activities of the Bush administration. And, rather than upholding their oaths to protect the Constitution and the laws of the land, entered into collusive acquiescence. It is their own backsides that also get covered with the passage of this bill. Nancy Pelosi bears responsibility for the human rights violations, and the Constitutional trespasses. She didn't initiate them, but she let them pass uncontested. Little wonder that impeachment was never going to be "on the table" with all the revelations that would come out under that process. Let's hope the Senate can correct the flaws in this bill before it is approved and sent to the crook in chief to sign into law.

Please don't post four one liners in a row, Buffalo Ken.

I watched C-SPAN's coverage of the Senate Armed Service Cmte. Hearing on Aggressive Interrogation Techniques: Panels Two & Three (June 17, 2008). Oddly, no one at C-Span has seen fit to make the video accessible via the Web, even though they'd re-broadcast the hearing today on Saturday.

Did find one link on the web here:
http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/06/17/senate-armed-services-tortu...

Anyone following this story could make good use of their time and watch the Haynes portion. The testimony is on firedoglake here:
http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/06/17/senate-armed-services-tortu...
You can see him trying to do the mental gymnastics around Levin. Reed gets angry at Haynes; Sessions is apologetic, showing the underlying "24"--pending terror--torture excuse, along with the "few bad apples" we expect of the Republicans.

I suppose it is all relative... I can't imagine a career soldier with brains and conscience in my six decades of life, during which the USA has consistantly been involved in one illegal/immoral/imperialist operation after another. Taguba at least stood tall on his way out, but I'm sick of these cowardly soldiers/politicians waiting until it was too late to find conscience. It's just not good enough! They swore an oath to defend the (deeply flawed...) constitution WHILE THEY WERE IN, not after they were out. We hear over and over about the troops 'in harms way', but somehow these 'brave' 'public servants' cringe at the thought of speaking essential but inconvenient truths. Even the lowest anti-war protester in San Francisco demonstrated more willingness to protect human freedom than the best soldier/murderer in Iraq.

Workers to power! Build the party of world socialist revolution! There is no other way forward.

if the Democrats had any smarts (or courage) they would have Taguba, and Generals Batiste and Shinsecki on prominent display at their convention.

(Maybe even let them speak--they couldn't be worse than the mealy-mouthed stuffed shirts and blouses that usually hold forth at such occasions)--Nah, I'm not holding my breath for that to happen.

Robert,

For sure this whole trend started when the regressive elites - seeing the democratic gains of the 60's - began a coordinated campaign to rollback those gains and regain their power, a campaign that resulted in Reagan, who started the ball rolling that has resulted in where we are today (and this includes their boy Clinton, a faithful servant of the regressive elites packaged as a caring 60's liberal who "feels our pain").
I admit I never thought it would go this far, that it would be stopped, that the people of this country would wake up - whatever!

Sure, we have the moronic base who vote for all the Republiscum. And we have Obama kissing their asses to get elected. And he is also kissing the assses of the Israeli Lobby and will certainly serve the regressive power elites.

I mean, is Obama going to do one of the most important things that needs to be done, start to dismantle the military-industrial complex, and redirect this wealth toward intelligent utilization? I dont think so. Is Obama going to stand up and renounce the Imperial project put in motion by the neo-cons?

Is any politician going to standup to the bloodthirsty redneck fundamentalist christians and say, "We are not going to put up with your bullshit any longer - grow up!" I mean, I am just so sick of the redneck christians dragging this country backwards demanding that we all pay tribute to their stupid childish beliefs.

My response to them? "OK, so you want to believe in Jesus? Fine, now shut up and take your religious litmus tests and shove them up your elimination portal! If you want to remain a child, fine, just leave the adults alone."

In other words, it is time for straight talk. The level of political and philosophical discourse we see in the media is atrociously childish, immature and ridiculous. And yes, in some ways this mirrors the general mental level of the average American.

The problem is, we dont have time for this crap.

Well, I may take a lot of heat for this but the more I look at it, the more I see just how much damage the legacy of christian spiritual fascism has done and how responsible it is for the mess we are in today.

If Western civilization could have instead had, say, Platonic esoteric spirituality as its major spiritual component, I think we would be far more psychologically mature and would probably have been a little less bloodthirsty and delusional. Maybe we might have even been smart enough to learn from the American Indians, instead of destroying them.

I refuse to believe that Antonio Taguba was the only flag officer who r5ealilzed the corrupt and criminal nature of what Bushco and its Pentagon stooges were up to--that more than the regrettable tragedy of Taguba's premature career termination is the greater tragedy of this story.

Bush canot be blamed for these abuses, as well as countless others ranging from scientific manipulation, justifying a war on manipulated information, blockage of vital envirommental reforms,and countless others have caused immeasureable damage.

Instead blame for these policies and their disasterous consequences lies on: The moron voters who helped his team steal two elections; The five supreme court justices who placed politics ahead of their sworn duty by planting this zealot in office,Our legislators who have defaulted their sworn duties by allowing tsuch unprecedented abuses; And most importantly an apathatic populace for tolerating these outrages.

If our armed forces were filled with integrity they wouldn't agree to fight. There are a few semi-good apples, that's all. Remember Watada. That's integrity.

KITAJ: Exactly!

I can't help but think that if those in government who do have a conscience had stepped forward, if the M$M had pushed for impeachment, and if the House and Senate had done the bare minimum; the impeachment of both Bush and Cheney would have been a slam dunk.

cazador22 June 21st, 2008 3:04 pm

Excellet post. General Shinseki was treated shamefully. And he was right. Taguba did the best he could and paid the price. Our services are filled with integrity, their civilian masters are not.

I don't know what a single Senator like Obama could do about this?

Ask your doctor if Obamacain is right for you. Side effects may include a false sense of security, manic, and loss of vision, followed by despair and impotence.

Since "our" Congress has already granted immunity to all who authorized, executed and cooperated with the massive illegal wiretapping/spying perpetrated upon all American citizens (starting from before 911,) and immunity for all soldiers and contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan (not counting the odd scapegoat,) and silent immunity for all crimes committed by the Executive branch (by refusing to impeach,) pardons will not be necessary - before Nov., they are sure to grant immunity for anyone and everyone who worked for the Cheney/Bush administration in any capacity at any time, including when he was the killinest Gov in the country.

But even if "our" Congress fails to pass blanket immunity for all cult members, based on the precedent set in the "telecom immunity" bill, as long as the President "thought" what he was doing was legal - thoughts delivered by a Yoo or Fredo or other such lying minion - then the actual laws as written are no longer operational; hence, Bush will say he "thought" torturing was totally cool and stuff, and all below him will walk away with book deals, FOX shows and probably a few pretty medals.

We all knew that there was torture going on at GITMO almost as soon as it opened. The first military guards were bragging about 'torture lite' when they were cycled home. So many Americans have conspired with their silence that we are all at the mercy of the Ministry of Information Retrieval after being exposed by scofflaw Telecons. No one remains to protect Americans from their own government. Neither party.

Taguba's family moved from Philipines to Hawaii when he was 11 years old.
Taguba went to Leilehua High School in Waipahu, then to Idaho State.
He is a real hero to me, proof that there is some (not all) integrity in armed forces.
Shinseki is another Hawaii soldier hero, born in Lihue, Kauai, where he went to school, then to West Point.
They both sacrificed their careers for truth/honesty.

Like a poster I read on CD 2 days ago, I too am about to just give up bothering to say anything anymore.

This country and the entire planet face immense problems, arguably the most difficult problems faced by the human race in our known history.

And yet, we cannot get our elected officials in Congress to even begin to stand up and stop these lunatics in power from wrecking this country and leading the world down the path of a new arms race and endless resource wars.

Pelosi and the rest of you: where the hell is the sense of urgency any rational person should be feeling right now as we look at The Situation with open eyes? How many more trillions in debt do we have to get before you notice this country is being destroyed?
How many more trillions have to be pissed away by the military-industrial complex, wealth that we desperately need to fund a Green Transition to an entirely new way of life, before you notice that we are in a crisis situation and that the window of opportunity is just about closed?

If someone had told me 30 years ago that this country would be mired in the kind of moronic stupidity and cowardice, and total lack of a higher vision that we see here in 2008, I would not have believed it.

The lunatics are definitely running the asylum, but I suppose it is bad form to point out that the people in power, their media enabler-whores and their moronic "base" are completely out of touch with reality, leading one to wonder if they arent entirely insane!

What has the "Democratic" Party done to bring those committing war crimes to justice? NOTHING.

What has Saint Obama done? NOTHING.

The Complicit Party (aka "Democratic" Party) is part of the problem and not part of the solution. Vote for anybody but the two parties.

Is there somewhere we can email General Taguba with our thanks.

Catherine

Sorry, buffalo_ken. I didn't mean to sound accusatory. I just meant that, in considering what the future is likely to hold in store, none of us can really afford the luxury of a totally non-anticipatory perspective. Or, to put it another way, the current indicators strongly suggest that time is not on our side.

""The commander in chief and those under him authorized a systematic regime of torture.""

This Nazi regime and their enablers (Democrats) need to be tried for war crimes, but an apathetic american public really doesnt give a shit. The Draft needs to be re-instated.

Talent and honor are not desirable qualities in fascist, war-profiteering USA.

Well, buffalo_ken, if we all just await the future's ultimate proof, I would feel even more certain that the ongoing foreclosure of options won't work in our favor.

Though he was on the right track here, Galloway concludes on far too weak a note. He seems to believe there's going to be a wave of "subpoenas" after Jan 20, 2009. Anyone who believes that should carefully study the picture of Pelosi affectionately beaming at Bush that accompanied yesterday's CD article on "Bipartisanship." (CD's software prevents me from posting a link to that picture, here.)

The final sentence ("Would that our President ... had done the same") is also disappointingly weak. If the best we can do is solemnly intone that it would have been better, had our president done what was morally right, we may as well just give up right now. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Pelosi & all the other unindicted con-conspirators belong before a war-crimes tribunal.

The career of one of the Army's more talented and honorable officers ended with an untimely retirement.
A pattern that extends far beyond the Army. It serves not only the direct purpose of culling the ranks, but also as a very effective means for intimidating any who remain and who might be tempted to follow their conscience in like manner.

The options for any effective countermeasures against the "New Order" are very rapidly being foreclosed. In fact, my own pessimism tells me that it's already too late to do anything except "duck and cover". Please prove me wrong!

It's up to WE THE PEOPLE to REGAIN our power and end the tyranny..just as when this nation was first formed. No time for cowards now...all we must do is DEMAND the biggest COWARD be removed
from the OVAL OFFICE..........NO ONE........I repeat, NO ONE can do it BUT WE THE PEOPLE........

www.votestrike.com