Willie Pete & Plummeting

November 10, 2004 - Some artillery guns fired white phosphorous rounds that create a screen of fire that cannot be extinguished with water. Insurgents reported being attacked with a substance that melted their skin, a reaction consistent with white phosphorous burns. Kamal Hadeethi, a physician at a regional hospital, said, "The corpses of the mujahedeen which we received were burned, and some corpses were melted."

I blogged last June and mentioned napalm (white phos) being used. We've known this weapon was deployed, for over a year. However, MSM and "alternative" sites again fan the latest old news. The twisty news now is it was used on civilians. Well good grief people, all weapons in war are used on civilians. Or do you really think smart bombing is that smart? Or perhaps it’s the talking point of willy pete being a "banned" weapon. Not for the US it isn't. It is within the "letter of the law" and remember the US operates under the "rule of law." The laws might be immoral but hey – they're law.

Neither grassroots side of American politics seem to think for themselves. Both wait, point and click for their 'leaders" to list the next outrage, replete with a target and/or fax number to send their indignant message to. Maybe it's the guy in a bowtie, this or that newspaper, news show, or news channel. Leadership on both sides know they can fan the coals and never get a fire. Mainstream or alternative outrage is – canned heat.

Every week for several weeks we read the same hyped headline that "Bush poll numbers plummet." We now use "plummet" in our household as synonymous for all fake drama or excitement, i.e. my electric bill was $1.37 less and straight faced I can say my electricity costs have plummeted this month.

Our troops continue to die daily while the "peace movement" sloths on, occasionally newsworthy, a march or protest here or there covered. An arrest or two for someone pulling down a flag or putting one up, a die-in that's more died off. Anti-war DOA. That's what happens when professional shills who benefit from government funds are the directors of "grassroots" movements. (Nancy Lessin, Medea Benjamin i.e.) Cindy who? Or how about the "recruiters in our schools?" That's news? All 3 of my sons were ROTC in high school well over a decade ago. Whoever said schools cooperating with recruitment is new is chewing the cud. Maybe a little more paperwork to "opt out" now but whoop ti do.

With great glee the "alternative" press chortles on one lame anti-Bush headline or the other. Bush faces foreign protests of late. Bush has always been protested overseas, bigger than any protests at home. More old news packaged as some sort of turning point.

My favorite on the shitometer of late is that "Bush faces alienating GOP over Iraq." Yep, send out a few GOP detractors to play "upset with the party" while both parties claim failed intel and point to "we be misled" by this or that. It's the SOP of absolving the US government of its latest profitable genocide, with total absolution usually after installing the opposition party next election – i.e. a new and not guilty "government."

Another one this week "the Republican-controlled Senate - for the first time - is drawing lines in the sand over war." Yes, Democrats AND Republicans on the hill no longer see their fate tied up with this president; get your hope on here folks, step right up. Sherlock, they're up for re-election and Bush isn't. Pols can now question the tactics used in Iraq, appear righteous, claim the use of torture, etc. are not "our values."

For the next year we'll see the pols pretend they strive for moderation, but from 2007 to 2008 there will be an orgy of admiration for the outgoing Bush. In the end, the money Bush has made for so many in DC buys a lotta conspicuous lovin' - and the only line ever drawn in the political sewer is the bottom one. Ka-$hing. Ka-$hing.