Has anyone seen Gates and Rumsfeld in the same room? Why was a makeup artist put on the White House staff?
Posted by TIKI AL at January 26, 2007 12:22 PMWhy should we be surprised. He was a devoted acolyte of GHW Bush,serving in the CIA and NSC under his direction. He was involved up to his earlobes in the Iran-Contra scandal and, besides being Prez of Texas A & M, he had an interesting corporate history.
According to Wikipedia,
Gates has been a member of the board of trustees of Fidelity Investments, and on the board of directors of NACCO Industries, Inc., Brinker International, Inc., Parker Drilling Company, Science Applications International Corporation, and VoteHere, a technology company which seeks to provide cryptography and computer software security for the electronic election industry.
Parker Drilling is an American offshore oil rig owner, which provides drilling services on land and offshore including drilling rigs, project management and rental tools to the energy industry.
Although SAIC is a large technology firm with numerous federal, state, and private sector clients, its traditional expertise has been supporting the United States Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community, including the National Security Agency. In fiscal year 2003, SAIC did over $2.6 billion in business with the United States Department of Defense, making it the ninth largest defense contractor in the United States.
And then there's the surprising little delight, VoteHere.
VoteHere provides independent election validation and verification (IV&V) solutions that monitor elections end-to-end and prove the validity of election results.
That's right. In addition to being neck deep in PsyOps, Black Ops, the military industrial empire and impeachable political skulduggery, he was deeply involved in a company that verifies the vote counts of all those honest, hard working electronic voting machines.
Now, his Defense Department is busily preparing to mass produce crowd control "ray guns" which are "harmless to pregnant women and the elderly". It just makes you feel like you were dipped in boiling water for a bit. This really makes me feel safe when I think of all the Cowboy Coppers who have had such a good time tasering victims, multiple times, who dared give them lip or fail to lick their polished motorcycle boots quickly enough.
Does anybody want to guess where future Free Speech Zones will be located the next time we have a Republican prez or VP holding a conversation with adoring citizens? What is the range of those gizmos, anyway? The moon?
Posted by DeminNewJ at January 26, 2007 12:55 PMSo when The GOP spoke out Against Clinton sending troops to Bosina was the embolding the enemy then?
Posted by goose1 at January 26, 2007 12:57 PMWhat Gates said is reminiscent of what was said by the U.S. government during the Vietnam War, that any dissent of U.S. policy will, allegedly, give aid and comfort to the enemy. It also brings to mind the bumper sticker that I saw on a car after I returned from Vietnam: "America- Love It or Leave It." Perhaps someone can ask Mr. Gates to point to the unwashed masses where in the U.S. Constitution it states that no criticism is allowed of this country's government during a time of war. The last thing this government wishes is for the people of the United States to be reminded that they have the right to challenge and to question and to think, even when this country is involved in another unnecessary war. Bring them home- safely- now.
Posted by Erroll at January 26, 2007 01:24 PM"Emboldening the enemy"--the time honored Rightist smear, utilized in every miltarist country with a functioning political opposition. As though the executive didn't have any obligation at all to get the Congress on board with the "great flight forward", let alone the people.
Lose an election, get a unanimous bipartisan report trashing you thrown in your face, portentously "study" the situation for 6 weeks (all the while secretly plannning your escalation), publically announce the strategy you know has virtually no support, implement it a day later, then declare those in Congress who seek to halt it treasonous traitors. Now THAT'S a failed democracy.
Who's being emboldened, Gates? Who's the "enemy"? The sunni's? the Mahdi Army? The Badr brigages? the shi'ites? the kurds? al-qaeda? the Syrians? the Iranians? The saudis? All of 'em? We've had enogh slogans--explanation time.
And whose fault is it? A Congress seeking to enforce the results of an election or an executive seeking to cynically evade it?
Posted by euzoius at January 26, 2007 01:28 PMsad when the people are committing treason daily, and accusing others of such behavior to bolster their own behavior.
I am afraid I am close to giving up. our congress are spineless. we might just have well elected republicans for all the action we are getting. if my fellow american is even remotely happy about this turning into an analog for the national socialists, then we must part ways
so long america, it was nice knowing you. when you come back and the constitution is accepted as law, you let me know. I may have to go to a civilised country where they use an S for a Z.
Seems to me they're pretty goddam bold no matter what anyone says at this point.
Posted by iamcoyote at January 26, 2007 01:37 PMThere's a good book dealing with this.
Lays out the SCOTUS case history dealing with the subject pretty clearly.
A good read.
Posted by snark at January 26, 2007 01:40 PM
So who IS the enemy at this point?
h
Posted by h at January 26, 2007 01:41 PMThe Cheney Adminstration, h. Thought you knew that.
Posted by iamcoyote at January 26, 2007 01:49 PMThese animals...I mean these amoral and ruthless criminals are really striking back hard. And lets just see what those in congress do...I read somewhere today (I would link to it if I could remember where)that congress says they want to remind Bush they are a co-equal branch of power in this country. Well they want to be treated as such it is time for them to use the power they claim they also have and do something meaningful to reign in his power. A stupid non-binding referendum that is watered down by some of Bush's puppets and that asshole Lieberman isn't powerful. Bush is calling their bluff and it is time for them to stand up to him by using the power they claim they have. If they don't then they will have fallen into the trap that Bush has set up for them calling them... a bunch of weak enablers....and he will continue to walk all over them because as they say, He does it because he CAN.
Posted by emal at January 26, 2007 01:53 PMHave you been to the gas pump today?
The price is down. Looks like its time to create some more chaos in the ME to lift that price a little. A bigger "surge" perhaps? Or, just a few nukes on Shiraz in Iran. The price is falling. Something must be done!
Posted by Nobody at January 26, 2007 01:58 PMThe enemy is the same enemy who attacked us on 9/11.
This whole absurd insane invasion/occupation is a $1 trillion diversion of effort and focus away from the organization that instituted a terror attack on 9/11. An exercise in destroying our military, bleeding us white financially and isolating us diplomatically from even our closet allies.
The Iraq invasion/occupation had nothing to do with fighting al qaeda, and precious little to do with it now.
Posted by euzoius at January 26, 2007 01:58 PMRhetoric like that used by Mr. Gates is intended to squelch dissent and our myriad freedoms in America. Limiting the freedoms of all Americans and destroying American democratic ideals is the aim of the enemy. It is the words of Mr. Gates that truely emboldens the enemy. Why does he hate America? Why does he align himself with the terrorists?
Posted by tp at January 26, 2007 01:59 PMSnark at 1:40 pm
Good suggestion. I have been mentioning this most relevant book on and off, for the past year, on many of the liberal blogs. Geoffrey Stone is able to demonstrate how the United States has attempted to suppress dissent throughout the history of this country. As Howard Zinn has said "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."
Posted by Erroll at January 26, 2007 02:01 PMThe Constitution, Article II, Section 4:
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Sounds like Gates fits the description.
Posted by Flamethrower at January 26, 2007 02:01 PMIf they don't then they will have fallen into the trap that Bush has set up for them...
Is that the real trap? Or does the Bush administration hope that Congress will get aggressive enough that they can not proceed with their escalation, conditions in Iraq continue to deteriorate and we begin to withdraw as Iraq slides into widening chaos. And there's Bush saying "If only we had been allowed to give our new strategy a chance! Now look at the mess we've got".
Bush has no one to blame at this point. He's gotten everything he's asked for in this debacle. He's the one making the decisions. He just reinforced that. It's all over the media.
But Congress can give him someone to blame.
Don't get me wrong. I want every last American out of Iraq yesterday. But it's not going to happen. It's not. In my book the best the Congress can do is put their opposition out there on the record. Put alternatives out there for the record. But don't give him someone else to blame for his failure.
Posted by snark at January 26, 2007 02:06 PMGates also said, "...it seems pretty straightforward that any indication of flagging will in the United States gives encouragement to those folks." His repeated flogging of this point reflects the desperation of his patrons. It's all they have left; brute force absent legitimacy failing to accomplish anything beyond sowing the seeds of future wars and making money for Mr. Other Priorities, Fredo & Co.
America's measured this expedition and decided the mounting sacrifice of lives, reputation and resources isn't serving any valid national interest. Escalating the lost Iraq war and expanding it to Iran serves only the Cheney administration's cash flow and neocon delusions. It's long past time to end a war that never should've been and only diminishes us.
Pelosi and Reid need to advance practical legislation that terminates and cauterizes this "strategic disaster of epic proportions." Toothless resolutions are inadequate. Cut the funding for any operations other than withdrawal and require the Cheney administration to secure a Congressional declaration of war prior to attacking Iran. Make the GOP oppose that and weld them to a foolish alternative opposed by America's sensible majority.
This is somewhat beyond limits on free speech---Gates is telling the Congress it's treason for them to be debating the wisdom of a presidential proposal to inject more troops into a civil war/occupation.
As though they have no business or role under the constitution to discuss or debate the status of an ongoing occupation of a foreign country by American troops. They either cut off the money or shut their treasonous mouths, according to Gates and Bushco.
That's not a limitation of free speech, that's a direct constitutional challenge. Bush has moved out of constitutional control. Have a nice weekend, America!
Posted by euzoius at January 26, 2007 02:16 PMWhat is posting anonymously a sign of I wonder?
Posted by snark at January 26, 2007 02:26 PMYes, right down to the repetition of "embolden", the NeoCons spit at us from Hell's heart. (I just realized: we are talking about Neo-Kan's from Botany Bay colony--who also favor fine Corinthian leather in their black sedans!)
We need Kirk. No more of this Picard/Riker-stuff.
Congress: do your duty.
March Jan 27th. DC.
Posted by gtash at January 26, 2007 02:35 PMRobert Gates is a lying sack of shit.
His tangles with the truth are well documented going back to covering for Oliver North, Iran-Contra and Reagan.
I'm not remotely surprised he's doing the samething now for Little Boots.
Posted by Christopher at January 26, 2007 02:40 PMWe should also get ready for the spectacle of the wonderful Senate Repubs not permitting a vote on ANY resolution, binding or non-binding. That may be the whole goal of the Warner resolution. According to Repuns, a judicial nominee deserves an "up or down" vote---but not whether the senate supports a president's "war" strategy or not!
What we're about to see is that our constitution breaks down and cannot function when a political party places party identification over the branch of government they serve in and over the voice of the people themselves.
At 200 plus years, our creaking constitution cannot take the strain these vile "conservative" Repubs are placing on it. The Right is turning us into an elected monarchy---exactly what Washington warned against and worked so hard to reject.
Bad times ahead.
Posted by euzoius at January 26, 2007 02:49 PM
So who IS the enemy?
"The Cheney Adminstration"
Yes, but who is the enemy from their perspective? Why doesn't some news person try to pin either Bush or Cheney down?
They have done a great job of selling the boogyman. The "enemy" is everybody's shadow (well, I mean every Repuke's shadow.)
h
Posted by at January 26, 2007 03:20 PMLooks like they are about to dismantle a LOT of buildings in Bagdad with the surge. "Quadrillage" the new strategy on the ground. This surely will help win the "consent" of the Iraqi people to our occupation and insure our "Victory". (Don't miss the comments to the article!)
More Stratiegic Hamlets, anyone?
Posted by Nobody at January 26, 2007 03:20 PMGates is violating the Constitution, which he has sworn to uphold. It is an act of treason against the United States, for the purpose of weakening our nation, for his own personal benefit. Gates, Bush, Cheney, et al, deserve to be tried for their criminal actions against the United States, and by the world for their crimes against humanity.
Will that happen? Unlikely. But if it did, we would return meaning to the foundation of our nation -- in peace, liberty and justice for all.
Posted by m at January 26, 2007 03:30 PMOops. Me @ 02:11 PM.
"Should the trial of Libby present a definitive threat to the political standing and power of Dick Cheney, all bets may be off regarding Iran."
"These days, all the thinking and management is being done by Dick Cheney, and if this Libby trial comes to pose a danger to his standing, all the sober analysis by policy experts may turn to dust. Nothing is more dangerous, after all, than a cornered animal."
A Cornered Animal by William Rivers Pitt
Friday 26 January 2007
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/012607A.shtml
The grownups are starting to seriously worry. Only Total Dick Cheney could connect a fair minded judge and a scrupulous prosecutor just doing a public service to unparalleled disaster.
Posted by Pvt. Keepout at January 26, 2007 03:35 PMThe (alleged) apparent kidnapping and summary execution of several American soldiers after the Karbal fiasco is getting wide play in the media. It appears the military is speaking freely of what happened with the press. Normally such negative incidents are downplayed or outright denied. I wager this is all designed to inflame the public and put pressure on members of Congress to desist in their anti-surge moves. After all, it looks bad to advocate easing up or pulling out of a conflict when you're letting cold blooded murderers off the hook. Sounds about right to me. The story is getting its play for very deliberate reasons and the fingerprints of this administration are all over it.
Posted by steve duncan at January 26, 2007 04:13 PMYes, but who is the enemy from their perspective?
You.
The story is getting its play for very deliberate reasons and the fingerprints of this administration are all over it.
But the story tells a different tale. The mission these soldiers were on is the mission the "surge" troops will have. Embedded with local forces and police, and living in these trouble spots. It's a vision of things that have still yet to come. But they will come.
Posted by phidipides at January 26, 2007 05:12 PMAt 200 plus years, our creaking constitution cannot take the strain these vile "conservative" Repubs are placing on it. The Right is turning us into an elected monarchy---exactly what Washington warned against and worked so hard to reject.
Washington must have known we'd turn into fat assed, beer chuggin', fake boob adorin' and mega-shoppin' sheeple that would allow its collective soul to be neutralized by a profit lovin', truth avoidin' pudiocracy and the likes of this sack-o-shite!!
Where's Kate Smith?
Posted by Goyo at January 26, 2007 05:24 PMphid, I agree. However, the administration can depend on the public, McCain, Lieberman and rightsquawk media to perceive it on a superficial "let's get those bastards!" level.
Posted by steve duncan at January 26, 2007 05:24 PMConstitution loophole: declare a never ending war on terror, and make up your own rules.
Did the founding fathers see that one coming?
Goyo: You left out chocolate eat'in.
Posted by TIKI AL at January 26, 2007 06:18 PMWhen Gates was first mentioned for secretary of defense, he was often described as a realist in the mold of the senior Bush. That made me uneasy since there were two sides to the realism of the senior Bush: the Gulf War realist and the Panama realist. Despite some serious blunders, at least the Gulf War was reasonably well done and had true multilateral support. Panama, however, never made any sense. We now know which kind of 'realist' Gates is.
Posted by Craig at January 26, 2007 06:45 PMThr y hv t. Th ndrmnrs r mr cncrnd wth prsrvng thr r f lgtmcy thn wth th prbblty tht thy r dng nd bttng th mnns f dmn llh n wntn dprdtn. r s t th dllrds' nnt nblty t cmprhnd th mpct f thr flly? Y dcd.
[Editor: ignore=off]Embolden THIS, you negligent BushCorp motherfuckers.
Posted by God Of War at January 26, 2007 08:54 PMBush's escalation strategy MOTIVATES the insurgents.
Every Bush strategy INCREASES American and Iraqi deaths.
Why can't Democrats counter the Administration's attacks?
Posted by JerseyMissouri at January 27, 2007 06:04 AM...snark, it's a lose lose for democrats politically. Not that politics should enter into anyone's vote or actions when it comes to the lives of thousands of our servicemen and women and War.
IF Congressional Democrats get emboldened and finally stand up to Nero and stop this madman's war, then no doubt repub's will blame democrats for not letting Junior try his escalation and that's why we lost. They've done it before. However, repubs are going to blame democrats no matter what happens on the War. If democrats roll over and don't go on the record and take some sort of strong action/stand against this madness and Bush continues to do as he pleases then they will also own some of that failure of his too. I believe the electorate will view them as weak enablers (and that is a problem they already have). The electorate is craving for strong leadership against Mr. 30%. If they don't offer the ISG recommendations as an alternative they will continue to look weak. And they should rub Gates traitorous talk back at him and remind him he was part of that group. It's a trap for democrats.
This is Junior and those enabling republicans like Joe Lieberman's war. And frankly, I just want them to vote with their hearts on this issue and worry about the damn blame and consequences afterward...because as I said,no matter what they do kkKarl Rove and the wingnut noise machine will blame them for it. It's what they do...it's a catch-22...but it shouldn't stop them.
Posted by emal at January 27, 2007 07:19 AM"vote with their hearts on this issue and worry about the damn blame and consequences afterward..."
Emal, how right you are.
Posted by Judith at January 27, 2007 08:27 AM