BFN

BreakForNews.

Audio.

RawStory Spreading For BushCo & CNN

"Ramadi has become a base of operations for Al Qaeda. Ware says, "Al Qaeda is almost untouched in its area of operations, and in the city of Ramadi itself, al Qaeda fighters are constantly attacking U.S. troops. Brigades sent to Ramadi are losing, on average, 100 American soldiers and Marines every year. And we don't see that abating. So, here's the heart of Al Qaeda in Iraq, and there's simply not enough troops and no strategy to combat it."

Al Qaeda leadership enjoys near free reign in an area north of the Euphrates which is the size of New Hampshire. The U.S. can only deploy a few hundred troops to this area. Ware laments, "They can do nothing to hamper al Qaeda's leadership in that area."

CNN Michael Ware: Al Qaeda dominates all the other groups so effectively that it is in charge. So, this is where American Marines and soldiers go face to face every day with the very organization that attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and yet it seems that they're being forced to do so under-resourced and with one arm tied behind -- behind their back.

--- See Bubba. Bush was telling the truth, finally. Al Qaeda dominates a large part of Iraq. Al Qaeda enjoys free reign and troops can do nothing to hamper Al Qaeda leadership. It's the heart of Al Qaeda in Iraq. Keep repeating "al Qaeda in Iraq, al Qaeda in Iraq, al Qaeda dominates in Iraq, al Qaeda in charge in Iraq" – it's their area of operation - the very al Qaeda organization that attacked WTC on 9/11. Just like Dubya said Bubba, al Qaeda in Iraq.

PMCs (Private Military Companies) or Who Needs NATO

PMC's, a booming business.

"ENABLING OUR CLIENTS TO OPERATE IN A GLOBAL HOSTILE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT"

Small sampling:

AKE Group
AMA Associates Limited
Armor Group
Beni Tal
Blackwater
Castlegate Group
Chase Waterford
Chilport
Combat Support Associates
Control Risks
CSC (purchased DynCorp)
Cubic Corporation
Eagle Aviation
EODT
Erinys International
Genric
Global Group
Global Risk International
Golan Ltd.
Hart Security
Halliburton
Homeland Security
International Charter Inc. of Oregon
International Security & Defence
Janusian
MPRI
Northbridge
Group 4 Securicor
Secopex
The Steele Foundation
Triple Canopy
Vinnell Corporation (purchased by Northrup Grumman)

Corporations that offer private military solutions as part of diversified catalogues of services : Bechtel, Booz Allen Hamilton, Carlyle Group, Titan Corporation, Thales Group, Veritas Capital.

… "rest assured that these PMCs are working hard to bring tactical safety to the world, enhance security, justice and well-being, defeat the threat of violence where ever that leads them, more powerful than a consortium, faster than a wire transfer, able to leap bankers in a single bound, look, it's supermercs."

P.S. You, Joe Workingpoor and John V(anishing) Middleclass, are not their "client." You are a potentially "hostile environment."

Row Your Boat

A young man in a small row boat is singing "Row, row, row, your boat, gently down the stream, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream."

God watches the man and wonders, "What would happen if I removed ¼ of his brain?" So God does. The man continues to sing, although somewhat slower "… row … row … row … your … boat … gently … down ... the … stream … merrily ... merrily … merrily …"

God wonders "What would happen if I removed ½ his brain?" So he does, and still the man rows and sings "……. row ……… row ……… row …….. your ……. boat ……. gently …….. down ……. the ……. stream ……. merrily ……. merrily ....... merrily ......."

God wonders "What if I removed all his brain?" So he does and the man sings - "Beeee all that you can beeee, join the Aaaaaarmy."

Dire Dire or Liar Liar?

Situation Called Dire in West Iraq
Anbar Is Lost Politically, Marine Analyst Says

By Thomas E. Ricks
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 11, 2006; Page A01

The chief of intelligence for the Marine Corps in Iraq recently filed an unusual secret report concluding that the prospects for securing that country's western Anbar province are dim and that there is almost nothing the U.S. military can do to improve the political and social situation there, said several military officers and intelligence officials familiar with its contents.

The officials described Col. Pete Devlin's classified assessment of the dire state of Anbar as the first time that a senior U.S. military officer has filed so negative a report from Iraq.

One Army officer summarized it as arguing that in Anbar province, "We haven't been defeated militarily but we have been defeated politically -- and that's where wars are won and lost."

The "very pessimistic" statement, as one Marine officer called it, was dated Aug. 16 and sent to Washington shortly after that, and has been discussed across the Pentagon and elsewhere in national security circles. "I don't know if it is a shock wave, but it's made people uncomfortable," said a Defense Department official who has read the report. Like others interviewed about the report, he spoke on the condition that he not be identified by name because of the document's sensitivity.

Devlin reports that there are no functioning Iraqi government institutions in Anbar, leaving a vacuum that has been filled by the insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq, which has become the province's most significant political force, said the Army officer, who has read the report. Another person familiar with the report said it describes Anbar as beyond repair; a third said it concludes that the United States has lost in Anbar.

Devlin offers a series of reasons for the situation, including a lack of U.S. and Iraqi troops, a problem that has dogged commanders since the fall of Baghdad more than three years ago, said people who have read it. These people said he reported that not only are military operations facing a stalemate, unable to extend and sustain security beyond the perimeters of their bases, but also local governments in the province have collapsed and the weak central government has almost no presence.

Those conclusions are striking because, even after four years of fighting an unexpectedly difficult war in Iraq, the U.S. military has tended to maintain an optimistic view: that its mission is difficult, but that progress is being made. Although CIA station chiefs in Baghdad have filed negative classified reports over the past several years, military intelligence officials have consistently been more positive, both in public statements and in internal reports.

Devlin, as part of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) headquarters in Iraq, has been stationed there since February, so his report isn't being dismissed as the stunned assessment of a newly arrived officer. In addition, he has the reputation of being one of the Marine Corps' best intelligence officers, with a tendency to be careful and straightforward, said another Marine intelligence officer. Hence, the report is being taken seriously as it is examined inside the military establishment and also by some CIA officials.

WaPo staff writer Sources :
1. Chief of intelligence for the Marine Corps in Iraq (or assistant chief?), Col. Peter Devlin's classified report – is Devlin aware his report is leaking like a sieve?

2. Several military officers and intelligence officials who are "familiar" with the report.

3. One Army officer.

4. One Marine officer.

5. A Defense Department official.

6. Another person.

7. A third said.

8. Said people.

9. These people said.

Damn Sam, I could make up shit from "these people said" sources. And take it just as seriously.

Sgt. Major gives the usual report from Anbar, but who can ya believe.

(#3 son in Anbar)

Newsbites

Bush personally signed off on Khatami visit. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush personally signed off on a visa allowing former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami to visit the United States because he wanted hear his views, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

Cindy Sheehan mission accomplished. Lying here in my motel room recovering from my fourth trip to the emergency room in a little over two weeks, I found out from a Trib news story that I have become “irrelevant” to the anti-war movement.

Coke Cola opens plant in Afghanistan. "This is another step forward for economic growth, self-sufficiency and better living standards for Afghanistan," Karzai said in a speech inside the plant, where 350 people had new jobs.

Chicago bellies up to designer beef. Today, diners at a handful of restaurants can select a steak that in its cow days ate nothing but sweet, tall grass. They can sit down in a restaurant where every steak comes from cattle that shared the same father. Or they can enjoy a piece of beef that is exactly like one designer Ralph Lauren dines on at his Colorado ranch.

FDA fines American Red Cross $4.2M. The violations include failing to reject donors who had traveled to malarial areas and allowing blood and related products to be distributed without proper testing, said Margaret Glavin, the Food and Drug Administration's associate commissioner for regulatory affairs.

Smokey Mirrors

Reports are that Bush acknowledged last Wednesday the existence of secret CIA prisons. I have read the transcript from said speech and I'm not getting quite the same admission of "CIA torture camps" that many writers are running with.

Bush admits that … "it has been necessary to move these individuals to an environment where they can be held secretly [sic], questioned by experts, ….

How that tallies up to 14 secret CIA prison camps in Europe is beyond my math and logic. Why so many prisons for the few "terrorists" captured by the US?

"Held secretly" could be right here in the USA. Claims of 14 top suspects having been relocated to Gitmo - does that mean each detainee had their own country of torture? Bush stated there are currently no prisoners in this CIA program. Can we expect dozens, if not hundreds, of former CIA prisoners to write a detailed exposé of torture?

Bush admits nothing in regard to torture and in fact reaffirms that the US does not torture. He states " … the CIA used an alternative set of procedures. These procedures were designed to be safe, to comply with our laws, our Constitution, and our treaty obligations. The Department of Justice reviewed the authorized methods extensively and determined them to be lawful."

Yep, Bubba, them lawful, so says Bush and DOJ.

All prisoners in this secret CIA program have been transferred to Gitmo, but as more terrorists are captured the program will " … be crucial to getting life-saving information."

In this speech Bush reassures Republicans the program protects America, saves lives, and gives ample talking points to his supporters, while giving the "left" a bumper sticker - "Bush Tortures." He assures us congress is busy with a "good bill" he's sent them … "For the sake of our security, Congress needs to act, and update our laws to meet the threats of this new era. And I know they will."

Of course they will GW, congress is obligated to the new orderly world contract too.

Given that the "war on terror" is as bogus as the "war on drugs" and the "war on poverty" what makes anyone think Wednesday's speech was truth? If the CIA is running a torture program, and they have and do, the CIA and other international intel agencies are not giving pols and we the peons the details. They're going to do what they're going to do and we're not in on it.

Now "gatekeepers" get busy and spend a few months arguing over this latest "revelation" of program and procedures. Argue as if you really have a voice in the process of governments and their intel operations.

Education for Johnny or Porking the DoD

For US students, Defense Department’s National Security Education Program, will be infusing more than $750 million during the 2007 to 2011 fiscal years to groom skilled personnel in languages deemed critical."

"[T]his program is a part of a strategic goal, and that is to protect this country in the short term and protect it in the long term by spreading freedom,” said Bush. "We’re facing an ideological struggle, and we're going to win."

"That’s what people in this country expect of our government," said Bush. "They expect us to be wise about how we use our resources, and a good use of resources is to promote this language initiative in K through 12, in our universities."

The president did not discuss with the college presidents the much larger language initiative, which is coming through the Defense Department.

Additionally, $27 million would go toward creating continuous language study programs, beginning in kindergarten and going through graduate school, through the Defense Department’s National Security Education Program. That initiative will require a commitment to work in a government job for at least two years. Officials did not have exact details about the continuous programs, but they said that kindergartners would not be in danger of committing to government labor.

--- Although I've always supported the idea of teaching foreign languages in kindergarten, it wasn't through DoD. Some critics suggest moving the program to the Department of Education - sure, then we can go back to sleep as the DOE is trustworthy.

My vote says this is more federal departmental pork than education; hog heaven, grooming a few faithful piglets for future service.

Caught On Tape

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the steroidus teenieweenie supremie, has apologized for his remarks on Cubans and Puerto Ricans being "naturally feisty and temperamental because of their combination of "black blood" and "Latino blood."

He said the tape-recorded comments "made me cringe" when he read them in Friday's Los Angeles Times.

Gratefully, not caught on tape, was Arnold stating all Blacks can sing and dance, and Black men have huge penises (a stereotype most Black men believe too) because, of course, their African blood.

Schwarzenegger aides routinely tape his speechwriting sessions so the writers can keep a record of his thoughts and speaking patterns. – Huh? Will his thoughts be monumentally important some day?

Arnie Arnie what were you thinking? And then, apologizing for innocent remarks – makes you sound so "girlie man."

Mizz Condi In The Big House

Rice likens Iraq and Civil War critics. "Asked if she still thought the decision to go to war in Iraq in 2003 was right, considering the cost in lives and treasure, Rice said, "Absolutely."

Rice claims both Iraq and the Civil War had their critics and both wars were justified. "… it was the right decision to fight and see the wars through."

Rice: "I'm sure that there were people who said, "why don't we get out of this now, take a peace with the South, but leave the South with slaves." No proof anyone said such a thing, but Condi is sure there were people who said it.

With all her education Ms. Rice parrots the public elementary school textbook's chapter on the Civil War : the war was fought to bring freedom to slaves. (Good ol' boy Abe Lincoln, father of the Republican party, used "liberation" spreading freedom as the war mantra.)

For Rice, dropping bombs on Middle East children is likened to the "war against slavery". For all her illustrious credentials and education Rice fails to see Afghanistan or Iraqis as fighting against Anglo slavery/occupation.

Secretary of State Rice advises a stay the course, no slave left behind policy. She must believe her own rhetoric, now that she has finally gotten her 40 acres and a mule.

Then again, maybe that permanently embedded threatening scowl she wears is not from being the "most powerful woman in the world" but from distaste for a life spent carrying shitpots as chambermaid on the BushCo plantation.

Ashcroft Finds His Niche

Ex-Attorney General Helps Firms Get Homeland Security Deals.

Not long after leaving government Ashcroft finds his "niche." Founder of Ashcroft Group LLC, a "lucrative consulting company helping security and other firms find business with federal agencies. Federal spending on homeland security is expected to reach nearly $60 billion in fiscal 2007, according to the Office of Management and Budget."

Ashcroft's firm has 30 clients, many of which make products or technology aimed at homeland security, and about a third of which the firm has not disclosed, to protect client confidentiality. The firm also has equity stakes in eight client companies, a trend the company plans to continue as it gradually turns its focus toward venture capital.

Clients include : Nanodetex Corp. in New Mexico, which offers technology that can detect airborne pathogens such as anthrax or liquid explosives such as the type authorities say a group of terror suspects planned to use to blow up passenger jets between Britain and the United States. Nano was formerly MCL Technologies Corporation, a "homeland security technology company".

Exegy Inc., a Missouri firm that does high-speed data mining. Exegy was originally Data Search Systems Inc.

Innova Holdings Inc., a Florida company, makes software that can remotely command robots and drones, or unmanned vehicles, the sort that police borders or fly above the mountains and valleys of Pakistan and Afghanistan searching for al-Qaeda cells.

Dulles Research LLC, a small Northern Virginia firm that claims its technology can detect illicit networks like the group of men who went on to hijack four planes on Sept. 11, 2001. The firm says its technology detects the threat of terrorist behavior by analyzing people's actions -- not their identities, an effort to safeguard individuals' privacy. (Behavorial analysis, acting right.) Ashcroft also sits on the advisory board of Dulles Research.

ChoicePoint Inc., a data marketer that gathers public records and sells access to them. ChoicePoint, another Florida racket that has been in the news more than once.

Ashcroft, a Republican and former U.S. senator and Missouri governor, said there are "real reasons" why the government should not be in the business of warehousing information. "The private sector does a better job of maintaining and developing information," he said. So says Ashy who lost his senatorial bid in 2000 to a dead man, Mel Carnahan.

So you see folks, the government is creating jobs in the "private sector" – for their friends and friends of friends … 60 billion dollars worth. Let the dollars soar …. Like they never have before ….

Camp Oz Activists

It begins, At long last … Camp Democracy (formerly Camp Casey) moves from Crawford Gulch to the National Mall in DC for a 17 day fun-filled event.

On initial reading of Camp Demo's site I thought finally the push is on to DC. After further reading I sadly report the whole affair is simply more of the same managed, staged, packaged, fake-assed "opposition."

PoliticsTV has a video link of Camp Democracy, a "coalition" of various activist groups, holding a kick off press conference at the National Press Club, announcing plans for protest and workshops on the Washington Maul in September.

The announcer, and one of many members "putting together Camp Democracy," is David Swanson. He mentions that "constitutional crisis" we have on a regular basis. And how opposed the majority of Americans are to "this administration" not the system that breeds so many crooks and liars.

Also announced on the video is that Cindy Sheehan, due to health reasons, has cancelled all participation in coming events for September. Sheehan has served her purpose and is being retired ? or are there some ego issues going on among the opposition leaders?

Swanson promises Camp Demo will empower you, give you new skills to save the republic. Show you how to organize, mobilize, lobby, sing, dance, teach, and learn at workshops, films, performances, and training. A carnival of family fun, campily restoring democracy.

There is a link to the schedule of what's happening each day. "Tents will provide activist activities, trainings, workshops, and entertainment on these themes: End War: Peace, nonviolence, accountability, and impeachment | Human Rights: Civil Rights, Immigrants Rights, Workers Rights, Women's Rights, Voting Rights, Katrina | End Corporate Welfare, Meet Human Needs: Healthcare/ Energy/ Education/ Environment | Communications and Creativity: Hands-on Media and Arts Training."

In other words, the theme is educating you on the US government's goodness - until this administration. Oh yea. The world can't wait, learn how to drive out the Bush regime.

Hands-on training on how to talk talk talk talk while bent over being reamed with the flagpole. And talk is something the first speaker could use some training in. Swanson introduces Malik Rahim, described as a former Black Panther, current Green party member, and a housing and prison activist.

Malik (nee Donald Guyton) "returned" to being an activist after serving 5 years for armed robbery in Los Angeles in the 1980s. Listening to Rahim's slow speech, the use of 'dat and 'dose for that and those, I can only conclude Camp Demo organizers feel a crack-fried Black ex-con wid 'dem kindah talkin' skills has broad appeal to average Black America. No sir folks, no MX or MLK these days. Malik is our best "militant" representative.

I'd rather join up with the Honorable Louis Farrakhan than heed Rahim, a diluted and damaged version of Black activism put on display by the fake opposition movement. Hey, can ya embarrass us some more brother.

Sponsers were listed as: Democrats.com. Code Pink, code for white women activists living well on organizations they founded. Immigrant Solidarity Network, all humans are legal and sneaking into the US is a way of networking. The ever awful NOW, or women without a cause.

Also attending are musicians I've never heard of and authors I can't stop hearing about, Ray McGovern, Scott Ritter, etc. The standard bearers of "opposition" are scheduled to be there, i.e. Maxine Waters, Barbara Lee, and maybe congressman Jim McDermott.

Camp Democracy. Be careful my little progressive pretty, or they'll get you and your little dog too.

P.S. Although the National Mall is not a mall per se but a complex of museums, etc. there are nifty gift and souvenir shops galore so – don't forget to go shopping.

Japan

Japan holds its breath ahead of royal birth.

Japan is gripped by expectation that the looming crisis over succession to the Chrysanthemum throne could end today if the baby to be delivered by caesarean section to Princess Kiko turns out to be a boy.

The wife of the second in line to the throne is due to give birth at a private hospital in Tokyo after doctors decided several weeks ago to plan a caesarean after spotting a minor complication.

The dearth of male heirs in a royal lineage that some claim stretches back 2,600 years has taken Japan to the brink of a constitutional crisis. Under the 1947 succession law, only males descended from an emperor can inherit the throne.

The stock market, meanwhile, has already responded to baby fever. Manufacturers of baby goods have seen their shares jump in recent days, with those in Combi, which specialises in prams, hitting an all-time high on the Tokyo stock exchange on Monday.

Kiko's pregnancy has given the country's conservatives hope that they can resolve the succession crisis - at least for the time being - without resorting to legal changes that would allow females to become sovereigns.

Khatami Says

NEW YORK — "Former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami said Monday that U.S. forces should remain in Iraq until that country's fragile government can assume greater control.

In an interview here during his first trip to the United States since leaving office a year ago, Khatami said, "We can't leave this newly formed government at the mercy of terrorists and insurgents."

Khatami is a moderate Islamic cleric who was president from 1997 to 2005. By law, he could not seek a third consecutive term. He was succeeded by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a hard-line fundamentalist.

Khatami said Iran, which is predominantly Shiite, didn't provide weapons to Iraqi Shiites while he was in power. He said he doubts that the current leadership is doing so, as has been charged by U.S. officials including Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. "No one will benefit as much as Iran from peace and stability in Iraq," he said."

Khatami, 62, now heads a recently formed group called the International Center for Dialogue Among Civilizations, based in Tehran and Geneva. He said he was devoting his time to trying to increase understanding among nationalities, religious and ethnic groups.

Khatami visited New York three times as president but was never allowed to go outside New York. Asked his impressions of the country so far, Khatami said he was happy to have the chance to travel with fewer restrictions but that to see America fully would require "much more time."

---- The ex-evil-doer leader of the "axis of evil" can now traipse around Bush Land giving speeches. I hear Jimmah Carter wants to meet with Khatami, and Khatami – please note above - supports US forces remaining in Iraq, you know, until the Iraqi can "assume greater control" (not total control mind you, just "greater"). US forces cannot leave Iraq at the mercy of "terrorists and insurgents." Khatami is Iran's version of a neocon.

Out of work pols – Global good ol' boys.

George Carlin

Spotted this on PI. Carlin, always good.


Get this video and more at MySpace.com

Joe Kool-Aid

Adam Yahiye Gadahn.

Gadahn also goes by the names Adam Pearlman and Abu Suhayb Al-Amriki. Believed to have been trained by terrorists in Afghanistan or Pakistan, depending on the year and reporter and/or newspaper.

"Born Adam Pearlman, the grandson of a prominent Jewish doctor, he was raised on a Riverside goat farm by free-spirited parents. After a brief infatuation with death metal music, he allegedly was recruited by al Qaeda through an Islamic mosque in Orange County."

In October 2004, ABC News broadcast portions of a 75-minute videotape of a man believed to be Gadahn but identifying himself as "Azzam the American." Azzam at that time declared, "Allah willing, the streets of America will run red with blood." The tape, produced by the As-Sahab Production Committee. (Is that in Burbank or Langley?) As-Sahab embosses their logo on it's productions so it must be real.

I await the As-Sahab filmster, in the vein of Michael Moore, to make an independent jihadist docudrama, Osama and Me.

Apparently there's a shitload of multimedia productions from jihadists. With a subscription to The Site Institute you can obtain real-time information on terrorist activity to aid you in tracking the terrorist threat. Their services include :

Timely translations of terrorist propaganda, training manuals, and communiques.
Relevant indictments, search warrants, and court documents.
Immediate access to terrorism-related media posted to the Internet.
Complete translations and transcriptions of messages from terrorist leaders.
Terrorism Headlines of the Week.
Developing Trends in Terrorist Strategy, Tactics, Targeting, and Propaganda.

Look folks, this is not your David Koresh or Warren Jeffs diddling kids and preaching in privately owned compounds. These are Jim Jonesers with weapons and studios. These jihadi want your blood running red in the streets of America.

The Ministry of News has warned you Joe American. You have been told since at least 9/11/01 that dark-skin and/or swarthy could be a threat; you've known Blacks convert to Islam in prison therefore always potentially a terrorist threat. You've known since Jose Padilla and John Walker Lindh there are homegrown threats. (Remember, those with three names are the most dangerous.)

But more importantly – Adam is a dark-haired Jewish white guy, homeschooled, raised as a Christian on a goat farm. Surely a recipe for a fruitcake so be vigilant.

For safety, limit your circle only to blue-eyed blondes, but use caution with McVeigh type blondes who hang around with darker folks; and beware folks raised by "free-spirited" parents, those who were/are homeschooled, and those who listen to the wrong kind of music. Get the picture?

Repent - The End Is Near

Bush recently blinked and putzed through yet another speech, comparing today's terrorists with last century's fascists and communists - coming to get you if you don't kill them over there. He was speaking to American Legion and VFW, which tends to be an old crowd who relate to the terminology of dangerous commies and fighting the hordes over there to keep them from invading here.

It is official folks. WWIII has begun, according to Bush and Osama bin Laden "who proclaimed that the 'third world war is raging' in Iraq."

Dubya and Osama have the same script writer.

Then there was this : Pentagon Releases Grim Report on Iraq.

NYT : "In a grim 63-page report, the Pentagon chronicled bad news on a variety of fronts … Death squads and terrorists are locked in mutually reinforcing cycles of sectarian strife … increasing fears that Iraq is sliding into civil war … rising violence … bad news on a variety of fronts … Al Qaeda is active despite the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, because of the group’s "cellular structure," that the Sunni insurgency is strong and that militias are undiminished."

However, the Pentagon's pdf also reports the Iraqi people place a great deal of confidence in the ISF ((Iraqi Security Forces). Despite the recent increase in violence the people's confidence in the Iraqi Army increased from 69% to 78%.

The Iraqi "hotline" also demonstrates a willingness to report suspicious activity. "Tips" have increased since March 2006.

The current ISF status lists 115,000 trained and equipped military personnel with another 162,000 trained and equipped Police and MOI forces (Ministry of Interior). The National Police are 90 percent trained and equipped and expected to be at 100 percent next quarter. But there seems to be glitched delays in both Army and Police training due to corruption, insufficient training, absenteeism of 1-8%, oversight, accountability, and "sectarianism" (the US version of "diversity" where one group accuses another of getting too many crumbs from the table of Big Daddy government).

In the pdf there are the usual pie charts and graphs. The worst insurgent hot zone maps directly across the center of Iraq. A 3 slice pie-state is the solution some would suggest. This tri-state territory could be directed from the world's largest and most luxurious US embassy in Baghdad. An option on the table.

Nation building isn't easy.

When polled with the question "How would you rate economic conditions in Iraq today? the Iraqi responded:

Excellent – 1%
Good - 10%
Fair - 26%
Poor - 59%

Likely the same response could be found in many African and Latin nations, or many neighborhoods in the US.

I have been comparing WWII, Europe, the East and West, and the old blue-blooded global money bags and wondering, are we near the beginning of the end to the elite's latest murder for money venture?

(I think I lost my original point here. Something I seem to do more of these days, from pure aggravation with what is considered news and information.)

To get a bigger war-on the ruling elite needs an enemy bigger than the "insurgents" of Iraq; an "October surprise" so horrendous the war goes global. But considering the money that has been made by the Beasts of Empire, they may be sated for a while.

For sure there will be no war crime trials for what has been done to Iraq/Afghanistan or the American sheeple. Although some would like to see US "war criminals" on trial a la Nuremberg. I wonder how many Americans would be able to name even 1 of the 10 Nazis who kicked and twisted at the end of a noose after "the greatest and most relevant trial in historical annals." Can grandpa of the greatest generation name one?

Who would the New 10 be? Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Powell, Ashcroft … or would these puppets pull a Pinochet … live in exile isles until they're 90 and too old to bother with. Bush in Brazil with Condi. Ashcroft in Bangkok. Cheney in Argentina. Disgraced on their estates with occasional quiet visits from corporate/political friends.

Maybe lower ranking heads would hang. Generals and colonels. Military men the average American has never heard of but the trial would illuminate and document their mountains of incubator babies and heads used as soccer balls, plastic grinders and rape rooms; lampshades and soap. They become household names that embody vile acts. But, nah … any brass that is punished would likely go the way of Janis Abu Ghraib; home with a pension.

Maybe we could get a few corporate heads, of the IG Farben type, who served 2 or 3 years prison time for "collaborating" with the Nazis.

(I say we plant two or three rocks on all these guys, arrest them for possession with intent, and supply a public defender. That'll keep them jailed longer than charges of war crimes.)

If the Pentagon pdf numbers above are accurate, and with hundreds of Halliburton and similar corporatocracy exercising stock options at $35 and immediately reselling at market of $70-80 - maybe some see the caboose of the current gravy wartrain, say in 18 months or so. Just before Election 2008.

There goes Hillary's chance to move back into the white House. Well, maybe not. She's been a good little supporter of the war and may get her Operation Just ReWARd. We need a woman to show the world the US is progressive, and who better than a woman to take the blame for the fall (of empire). I can hear the First Mother jokes now.

The Iraq "insurgents" have no major outside backers. There is no genuine civil war in Iraq. It took a century for Anglos to "contain" the ME but they may have finally succeeded. All the sheiks and princes and their puppet ministers years ago drank a toast to their Anglo/West counterparts in Paris, London, Berlin, Prague, Brussels, Vienna, Zug, Riyahd, Dubai, D.C. It's called statecraft. Isn't that a neat word ... state-craft? Craft of the state; executing crafty plans of the Global State.

Once the "coalition" has Iraq securely hog-tied, and Anglo leaders discover Mahmoud Ahmadinejad isn't really evil for building power plants, the bulk of US troops will suddenly, and it will seem suddenly, get to come home. Fox and CNN claim themselves correct about all things. Victory headlines are printed for round 1 in the war on terror, or will SAVE be the term used? Everybody wins, well everybody but the serfs, in the Struggle Against Violent Extremists.

US Troops will rotate to Baghdad just as they have for years to Okinawa, Ramstein, Seoul, Kosovo. A few 'support the troops' decals will be seen on old SUVs, sun fried to the paint. al-Qaeda leaders will be resurrected with every election and for porking the defense budget; remember the war on terror will last forever. Excuse me, S.A.V.E.

But, there's always N. Korea to rain fire and brimstone from a nuclear sky and bring on Armageddon. Afterall, true believers and chosen people are constituents too. Repent! Duck and cover, buy duct tape.

Dumber Than We Thought

Although I'm not a PI member I noticed this "open challenge" over on their site.

Regarding Paul Craig Roberts, a man I have criticized more than once.

Roberts latest "They're Even Dumber Than We Thought - The Five Morons Revisited" is the object of the challenge : "to show … that there's anything about this article that's wrong."

What's wrong with pseudo-progressive Roberts' delightful bash piece are the last 2 paragraphs :

"The only hope is that Bush and Olmert miraculously turn into grown men, admit their mistakes, apologize, send reparations and commit to winning acceptance of Israel and America based on Israel's and America's good behavior. It would be nice to see in operation some of the superior morality that the two claim.

Considering the extraordinary hubris and self-righteousness of neocons and Zionists, nothing like this can possibly happen. Israel, the US, and the Muslim world will continue to bleed."

See, all the mess, hubris, and bleeding is to blame on those really greedy moralistic neocons and Zionists - with names like Olmert, Bush, Rice, Rumsfeld, as Roberts' designated "morons" taking the fall all the way to the Suisse bank in Uruguay.

Roberts, as so many born-again but this time as a progressive, is not going to blame war on the capitalist system, but on a few greedy arrogant neocon Zionist "morons."

The past few months of high profile wordsters putting neocon/zionists in the bull's eye, however true, keeps the sheep from blaming the capitalist system which can only feed on bleeding others, especially with war.

All high profile "leftish" leaning wordsmen and women should be obliged to show the profits in their portfolio since 2001. I will show you mine if you show me yours. Is not A. Schulman doing better with war Paul? Stock prices doubled in price it appears.

And by the way, did Roberts quit his membership in the Council for National Policy? An organization described as a "highly secretive... a theocratic organization -- what they want is basically religious rule."

Hmmm, and Paul is willing to send reparations over there but rants about the merger of civil rights and gangsters being a protection racket here - brought about by the good intentions of confused white folks of course. But I guess reparation contracts "over there" will help stocks here, hey Paulie?

The times are devious folks, major devious.

Conversation With Bubba

Well, Bub. Looks like it's just us. Yep, most everyone seems to think the "antiwar candidates" will do it differently, better. They even have their own website at antiwarcandidates.com.

Here's something to keep you busy busy busy, antiwarcandidates 5 point plan:

1. Find the election district in the state where you live.

2. Next, find the name of the incumbents who are currently serving as your representative in the Senate and Congress.

3. Next, locate their challengers in the up-coming elections.

4. Contact the incumbents and the challengers, and ask them to take a clear position on the question: Do you support the War on Terror?

5. Tell them to send their responses to this website at antiwarcandidates@yahoo.com.

No, Bubs, it's not like the Publishers Clearing House enter to win sweepstakes. At least not until the antiwarcandidate site publishes their winner's circle.

Alls they gotta say is bring the troops home and it’s a platform. Nevermind that none of these candidates, if elected, will accomplish that meme. They know they won't, and you and me know they won't, but hey, there will be some new faces spouting the same old rhetoric about timelines and RE-deployments and grad-u-all withdrawal.

And don't ya just love it when the "left" spouts about this or that media-minion asking the hard questions? Hahaha, that one really makes us laugh, doesn’t it? Such as Ted Koppel "ripping Fema Brown a new one" as re-visited by Crooks & Liars. As if Koppel isn't just another old-aged minion of the ruling elite.

Did you know Koppel is a Brit born to Jewish parents? But maybe they forgot to "manage" Ted that evening, or maybe that was just last year's propaganda. Or maybe, the controlled "left" doesn't really know what "ripping" into someone looks like.

Ted did point out that New Orleans needed troops sent in quicker because "anarchy and chaos" were breaking out (Blacks on the rampage). Of course the failed response to Katrina bolstered the "left's" other talking point - that troops were unavailable for New Orleans because they were all in Iraq, fighting BushCo's illegal war. You would think if 290 million Americans cared so much the authorities would have turned away hundreds of thousands of volunteers. Instead the media portrayed New Orleans Blacks as raping and pillaging and, per management, highlighted the fall guys (Brown/Fema) while the usual big-name contractors grunted at the Trough of Orleans, all the while dispersing the poorest victims across several states.

Good ol' Ted. Been in the news business 42 years and the country is a better place for his interviewing/reading of the news. Don't you think so Bubba?

Then there's the "real" alternative sites, such as The Raw Story. Woohoohoo. Who the heck is John K. Bryne, reportedly the founder of that "progressive" news organization? In TRS's 2 year history it has become a major site of "investigative reporting." Stop laughing Bubba, this really isn't funny.

Look, wiki says : "The Raw Story "broken" the following "stories"..."the first to reveal Sen. David Vitter (R-LA's) dinner with Jack Abramoff; the first to identify Valerie Plame's work on Iran; the first to expose the practices of the nonprofit that funded Tom DeLay (R-TX)'s trips to Scotland and Asia; the first to publish the Secret Service logs of Jeff Gannon's visits to the White House; the first to print the actual Terri Schiavo 'talking points' document; and the first to finger Vice President Dick Cheney's role in the CIA leak scandal."

Abramoff, Plame, Delay, Gannon, Schiavo, all stories that rocked the nation to its foundation. Stop laughing, I mean it Bubba; all the progressive sites link to Raw Story Just look at today's headlines there :

1. Scientists doubt 'God spot' in brain (why do I think of the G-spot?).

2. Pranksters hoped to 'shame' HUD. (Shame on pranksters who think elite toadies can be shamed.)

3. Swiss hikers urged not to hug cows.

4. Legless/armless boy somersaults 3 miles to save injured Dad (scratch, that one was National Enquirer.)

So many real sites and newsmen these days ripping into the bad guys and being the "first to finger" for us. I got a finger for them too Bubba.

Poor Little Criminal Spearheads

Aug. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Frank Quattrone, the top investment banker accused of wrongdoing after the collapse of the technology bubble, won't face prosecution and can return to work in the securities industry.

A judge in New York today approved an agreement under which federal prosecutors will drop obstruction-of-justice charges against Quattrone if he doesn't break the law for a year. Quattrone, 50, won't serve jail time or pay a fine and didn't agree to any restrictions on his work. He admitted no wrongdoing.

Frankie may receive 100 million in compensation, as "long as he abides by an agreement and does not break the law for a year."

Jeffrey Skilling still roams free. Bernie Ebbers free and filing appeals. Michael Milken lives happily ever after.

Aug. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Kinder Morgan Inc. accepted the largest pipeline takeover in history after a group led by Richard Kinder, the former Enron Corp. executive who helped found the company, raised its offer to $15 billion.

Kinder and partners including Goldman Sachs Group Inc., insurer American International Group Inc., Carlyle Group and Riverstone Holdings LLC raised their bid to $107.50 a share from a May offer of $100 a share, Houston-based Kinder Morgan said today in a statement. The buyers also will assume $7 billion in debt, bringing the transaction's total value to $22 billion.

The company's shares have climbed 20 percent since the offer on May 29, representing a gain of $415 million for Kinder, who owned an 18 percent stake in Kinder Morgan as of a June filing. Kinder, 61, will remain chairman and chief executive and will reinvest all his shares, according to the statement.

The offer accepted by Kinder Morgan values Kinder's stake at $2.58 billion. Co-founder Bill Morgan, his son Mike Morgan, and director Fayez Sarofim are also among the Kinder Morgan investors.

Kinder Morgan was formed in July 1999, when Kinder and his partners bought KN Energy, a Colorado-based pipeline company. Kinder and Bill Morgan, also a former Enron executive and a University of Missouri classmate, created the company that would become Kinder Morgan by buying Enron's stake in gas-liquids and carbon-dioxide pipelines as Enron expanded in energy trading.

Enron collapsed in December 2001 under crushing debt and allegations of fraud. Lay and his successor as Enron's CEO, Jeffrey Skilling, were convicted in May of spearheading the fraud that led to Enron's failure. Lay, who was scheduled to be sentenced in October, died last month.

And they say crime doesn't pay.

Martin Barreto

Newphew of former Nicaraguan president Violeta Chamorro found beat me hurt me choke me prove u love me strangulation.

NEW YORK -- A one-time aide to former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was found murdered in his apartment earlier this week.

Authorities say 49-year-old Martin Barreto was found strangled. Before he was found dead, Barreto told his doorman he was expecting a visitor and to let him in. Police are searching for the visitor as a possible suspect.

Police discovered the nude body of Barreto Monday night on a bed at his home in Greenwich Village after a friend reported he wasn't responding to phone calls or knocks on his door.

Relatives and friends said that about three years ago Barreto had sought restraining orders against a man with whom he had ended a relationship.

Barreto was a deputy press secretary in the late 1990s. At the time of his death, he was a partner in a public relations firm.

Giuliani spokeswoman Sunny Mindel said the former mayor wanted to express "his heartfelt sympathy and prayers to Martin's family and friends."

Quickies & Baloney

Liberals may think Leiberman is quickie kissing butt this week. Sen. Joe Lieberman on Sunday called on Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to resign and backed an international conference to find a way out of the crisis in Iraq. But wait - Remember Feb 2005 rumor was "Lieberman could be on an administration list to replace Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld in the next year or so." Be careful what you wish for.

American Empire of Bases from Commiedreams: "At Least Seven Hundred Foreign Bases". Nah, Chalmer's math includes guard shacks and outhouses as the figure come from the DOD's "Base Structure Report" of real estate/real property. There are approximately 300 bases worldwide, and even some of these are duplicates, e.g. Naval Station Fort Meade, co-located with Army Fort Meade. Even 300 is too many, but you really think countries like S. Korea, which Chalmer refers to as "rich democracies," want US bases to leave with the money GI Joe generates into the local economies? Name one country where the ruling elite want the US to take all our bases are belong to us and leave.

And, still beating a dead horse, or in this case, a nag named Plame - The identity of Woodward's source remains one of the big mysteries in the case because the Post reporter is the first member of the news media known to have discussed Plame's CIA employment with an administration official.

Sewn into the playtex, cross your border underwear. LAREDO, Texas Aug 22, 2006 (AP)— A pedestrian is accused of trying to smuggle $535,000 worth of heroin into Texas in her girdle.

Headline: Russian Jet Crash in Ukraine Kills 169; Many Are Young. Shouldn't that be were young? Are headlines highlighting death of children and teenagers more often these days, or is it just me?

And finally, if the Ramseys are not guilty then very possibly OJ and Whacko really are innocent. Must I rethink all this, sigh. That reminds me - 'out of the mouths of babes'. Thirty years ago when #2 son was small he told me white people smell like baloney.

Maybe he was on to something.

But maybe not, he also thought he was from Jupiter and I was just his chosen earth mother, given the privilege to raise him.

Body Counts

Call me heartless but to be honest I am not fascinated by the political "body counts" of incumbent administrations. The counts are as numerous and distracting as gnats on a dog's butt. Today's "scandals" of illegal spying and suiciding low-level players are re-runs of the Clinton Era body count, Bush I body count, Reagan body count, Nixon, Johnson.

At the conclusion of the Alternet article on the 2 European "suicides" is this comment : "As more troubling revelations come out of Europe, it may become more difficult to ignore how easily spying programs can be hijacked for illegitimate purposes. The brave soul who pursues this line of inquiry, however, should fear for his or her life.

Hmmm, so spy programs easily hijacked for illegitimate purposes is a troubling revelation? To who? Governments and the powerful have spied on everyone since at least Moses. Hijacked – most overused word of the new millenium.

Brave soul should fear for his life? Death awaits if you pursue your government or powerful people? Is that the real point of the article – got fear? Or is it distraction, chasing assassination conspiracies that will still be theories a century from now.

The article mentions Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, aka Abu Omar, an Egyptian cleric who was granted political asylum in Italy in 1997, after seeking asylum in Albania, Bosnia, and Serbia. Beautiful Italy was 4th choice?

Omar was supposedly kidnapped in Milan and flown to Cairo. The Italians had him under surveillance due to his preaching jihad from a Milan mosque and have stated had he not been taken to Egypt he would be in an Italian prison now because of his connection to an Italian network of Islamic extremists.

Abu Omar's story is that after his February 2003 disappearance from a Milan street, allegedly kidnapped by CIA, he was held in a Cairo prison for over a year, where he was interrogated, tortured, starved, beaten, subjected to freezing temperatures, force fed, electric shocks, etc. and then released in April 2004 under house arrest.

House arrest for an "Islamist extremist" after multiple intel agencies had launched such an elaborate kidnapping and interrogation plot? But a house arrest is better than Gitmo.

My question is, after wanting Abu Omar for a decade or more for involvement in an Islamic group which preached the overthrow of the Egyptian government, why did the Egyptians release him? Could they not make any charges stick? The teflon imam.

Why Egyptian intel didn't carry out the "kidnapping" alone beats the hell out of me. It's not as if Egypt's intel agency isn't capable. Egypt's first president, Nasser, 1956-1970, quickly put in place an intelligence network, according to the Odessa file, with the aid of former Nazis; similar to the CIA bringing Herr Gehlen to the US via the Dulles boys. Supposedly the Odessa file shows the Dulles boys invited fleeing Nazis to aid Nasser in setting up Egypt's new republic intel apparatus. (The CIA was behind Nasser in the 1952 military ousting of King Farouk aka spreading democracy.)

The 1950s was the decade of optimizing good ol' boy talents of Nazis who were allowed to survive and thrive after WWII. Winners and losers in WWII scrambled to acquire the best of German brains, Nazi or not.

The last time I checked 26 CIA agents have been named by Italian authorities in the illegal "rendition" of Abu Omar. What? Those 26 plus the dozens of Egyptian, US, Italian, and god knows who else allegedly in on the plot – not exactly a black op. Why not take out an ad in the paper: Keystone Spies Snatch & Grab Imam for Catch and Release Program.

At any rate, one theory now is that the abduction of Omar led to the subsequent death/murder/suicide of Adamo Bove, who " … at the direction of Milan prosecutors, … used mobile phone records to trace how a "Special Removal Unit" composed of CIA and SISMI agents abducted Abu Omar and flew him to Cairo where he was tortured." Bove's discoveries led to, according to Slate magazine Italy's Watergate.

Rest assured Italy's watergate will bring as much change in Italian politics as Watergate did for the US.

Bove had been employed, I believe since 2000, as head of security at Telecom Italia. Bove's work "discovered a flaw in the system allowing people to enter the Telecom system without a trace. Bove showed "… that private companies and reporters in connection with SISMI were able to access information regarding Italian citizens, using the system in place for legal wiretapping." Sound familiar? Similar to our own highly publicized and scandalous system of illegal snooping on millions of citizen Joes.

Bove, an investigative cop made a name for himself a decade ago when he caught two Camorra bosses, Francesco Schiavone and Mario Fabbrocino. Frank and Mario were involved in a slightly different sort of politics, the politics of drugs and crime … well actually no difference at all as drugs, crime, and politics are their own axis of evil.

After decades of crime bosses running Naples, becoming a "camorrista" was a criminal ideology young men aspired to, that is until Pasquale Galasso turned state's evidence in 1992 and sang like a canary. The Italian version of America's Joe Valachi, one of the first and few mobsters who violated omerta (code of silence). Being married to a Sicilian I have no problem believing Bove could have been murdered by the mob; it's unnerving how some folks never "get over it."

The CIA, and all national intels, use multinational mid-level executives as NOCs. Could Adamo Bove have been such a creature? A businessman/cop/spy doing a job for an intel group? Was there a security flaw as Bove claimed which allowed rampant easy untraceable access by anyone on anyone? How can we know who, when, what was accessed if access was untraceable? Is it a "look, someone snooped on you but we don't know who." Likely the guy demanding money or favors did it.

Evidence to the Greece illicit eavesdropping scandal has been destroyed. Oh well, take their word for it.

The average Joe of the West has long enjoyed the illusion of privacy, and spying was something governments did only on foreign bad guys to keep Joe safe and free. Joe buys that propaganda, usually all the way to purple hearts and the cemetery.

Monitoring Joe Average began in earnest back in 1936 with the SSN; similar to the Nazi's indexing of prisoners with serial numbers and/or tattoos; as technology advanced so did encroachment on the life of Joe Average, specifically what Joe does with his money which Big Brother intends to take as much of as possible. Today Joe's life is indexed in detail but without the physical tattoo. However, give the World Order more time. Chips are likely in the future; the evolution to neatness and invisibly tattooing the slaves, again, promoted as safety precautions.

I guarantee that any nation's domestic spying programs on Joe Blow is done for one reason and one reason only : REVENUE. Be it IRS debt collectors, taking Joe's bourgeois assets if need be, Joes who avoid taxation, con artists, non-State sanctioned illicit drug dealers, grandma's bank account receiving untaxed funds from the kids, etc.

We are all on the national/international radar. That out-of- state speeding ticket Joe ignored 20 years ago is gonna pop up the next time he renews his license, that 5K student loan with mega interest now at 25K he owes, those old tax warrants and liens – Joe's past is gonna catch up and take a big surprise bite, while he fears Big Brother snoops his 887-HOT-DATE calls and might know about that penis implant.

It's no coincidence that Italy's domestic spying scandal runs along with the US domestic spying, the Brits domestic surveillance, and other Anglo nations spying. Run white people run, the government is spying on you. I suppose those of us who, for generations, are accustomed to being watched simply for being Black, the idea of being "watched" does not create the same level of fear. Most Blacks have a healthy distrust of power/government - having always known "the man" can and will crawl up your ass at any time with a fine-tooth comb.

"Spying" on Joe is not for his political views, which are no threat with rigged elections, corporate world order, government sanctioned dumbing and doping and coddling of Joe – all the connected spying databases are simply the latest tool to track and nickel and dime Joe to death.

It works for the elite. Keeps Joe from demanding pols and laws which might prevent and/or lessen elite power. I.e. 6 year term limits for all DC pols, publicly funded campaigns, banning lobbyists, demanding an end to wealthyfare, an end to funding the war on drugs, war on terror, and other bogus programs and agencies. Now that would take a brave soul.

Brass Signatures For Sale: Excellent condition, Desk Kept, Late Model Taxpaid Pensioners. Cheap At Only $5K - OBO. Call Now, Won't Last Long

We the undersigned …

… believe that Israel’s military operation to remove Hezbollah from southern Lebanon is a correct and legitimate response to the creation of an armed force accountable to Syria and Iran residing within the boundaries of Lebanon and using Lebanese territory to engage in cross-border warfare.

As American defense professionals, we view events in the Middle East through the prism of American security interests, in which regard we make two points:

First, the problem of militias and non-state actors operating in sovereign country is precisely the same as that faced by American and coalition forces in Iraq. The militias and foreign fighters facing our troops are also supported by Iran and Syria.

Second, we have a particular interest in the demise of Hezbollah.

(Signed as of 07 August 2006)

1. RADM Fred Ames, USCG (ret.) - Assistant Commandant for Human Resources

2. Lt. Gen. Marcus A. Anderson, USAF (ret.) - Inspector General, HQ USAF

3. Maj. Gen. Max Baratz, USAR (ret.) - Chief of the Army Reserve

4. Lt. Gen. Julius W. Becton, Jr. USA (ret.) - Commander VII Corps

5. RADM Charles Beers, USN (ret.) - Commander, Submarine Group Ten

6. Gen. William Begert, USAF (ret.) - Commander, Pacific Air Forces, and Air Component Commander for the Commander, U.S. Pacific Command

7. Lt. Gen. Walter E. (Buck) Buchanan III, USAF (ret.) - Commander, 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces

8. Lt. Gen. Anthony Burshnick, USAF (ret.) - Vice Commander-in-Chief, Military Airlift Command

9. Lt. Gen. Paul Cerjan, USA (ret.) - Deputy Allied Commander, Europe

10. Gen. J.B. Davis, USAF (ret.) - Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe (NATO)

11. Lt. Gen. Joseph DeFrancisco, USA (ret.) - Deputy Commander in Chief and Chief of Staff, U.S. Pacific Command

12. ADM Leon Edney, USN (ret.) - Commander in Chief, Allied Forces NATO

13. Maj. Gen. Bobby O. Floyd, USAF (ret.) - Director of Logistics, Air Mobility Command

14. Gen. John Foss, USA (ret.) - Commanding General, Training and Doctrine Command

15. Maj. Gen. Paul Fratarangelo, USMC (ret.)

16. Maj. Gen. David Grange, USA (ret.) - Commander, Task Force Eagle (Bosnia) and Task Force, Kosovo.

17. Lt. Gen. Tom Griffin, USA (ret.) - Chief of Staff, Allied Forces Southern Europe

18. Lt. Gen. Earl Hailston, USMC (ret.) - Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command/ Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Bases, Pacific

19. Lt. Gen. John Hall, USAF (ret.) - Commander of U.S. Forces, Japan and Commander, 5th Air Force

20. VADM James D. Hull, USCG (ret.)

21. ADM Jerome Johnson, USN (ret.) - Vice Chief of Naval Operations

22. VADM Bernard Kauderer, USN (ret.) - Commander, U.S. Submarine Forces

23. VADM Anthony Less, USN (ret.) - Commander, Naval Air Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet

24. RADM Frederick L. Lewis, USN (ret.) - Commander, Naval Doctrine Command

25. Lt. Gen. Donald M. Lionetti, USA (ret) - Commander, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command

26. Maj. Gen. Jarvis Lynch, USMC (ret.) - Commander, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island and the Eastern Recruiting Region

27. Gen. Gregory S. Martin, USAF (ret.) - Commander, Air Force Materiel Command

28. Lt. Gen. Charles May, Jr., USAF (ret.) - Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, USAF

29. VADM Paul McCarthy, USN (ret.) - Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet

30. Maj. Gen. James C. McCombs, USAF (ret.) - Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Special Operations Command

31. Lt. Gen. Fred McCorkle, USMC (ret.) - Deputy Commandant for Aviation MG

32. RADM William F. Merlin, USCG (ret.) - Commander Eighth Coast Guard District

33. RADM Riley Mixson, USN (ret.) - Director of Air Warfare

34. Maj. Gen. William C. Moore, USA (ret.) - Director of Operations & Plans

35. Lt. Gen. Carol Mutter, USMC (ret.) - Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs

36. Lt. Gen. Tad Oelstrom, USAF (ret.) - Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy

37. Lt. Gen. Garry Parks, USMC (ret.) - Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs

38. Maj. Gen. Robert Patterson, USAF (ret.) - Commander, Special Operations Command & Commanding General 23rd Air Force

39. VADM James Perkins, USN (ret.) - Commander, Military Sealift Command

40. Lt. Gen. Charles H. Pitman, USMC (ret.) - Deputy Chief of Staff for Aviation, HQMC

41. RADM Richard Rybacki, USCG (ret.) - Commander, First Coast Guard District

42. General Crosbie Saint, USA (ret.) - Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army

43. RADM Norman Saunders, USCG (ret.) - Commander, 7th Coast Guard District

44. Maj. Gen. Sidney Shachnow, USA (ret.) - Commanding General, JFK Special Warfare Center and School at Ft. Bragg

45. RADM Sumner Shapiro, USN (ret.) - Director of Naval Intelligence

46. Gen. Lawrence Skantze, USAF (ret.) - Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force

47. Lt. Gen. Bob Springer, USAF, (ret.) - Vice Commander in Chief, Military Airlift Command

48. Gen. Donn A. Starry, USA (ret.) - Commanding General, U.S. Army Readiness Command

49. Maj. Gen. Larry Taylor, USMCR (ret.) - Commanding General, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing

50. Lt. Gen. Lansford E. Trapp Jr, USAF (ret.) - Vice Commander, Pacific Air Forces

51. ADM Jerome Tuttle, USN (ret.) - Director, Space & Electronic Warfare

52. Gen. Louis C. Wagner, Jr., USA (ret.) - Commander, U.S. Army Materiel Command

53. RADM George R. Worthington, USN (ret.) - Commander Naval Special Warfare Command and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations

54. RADM Guy Zeller, USN (ret.) - Commander Cruiser Destroyer Group Three/Commander Battle Group Foxtrot

Clash of Civilizations Act 2 Scene 3 Working Title: Something Doesn't Smell Right

Israel/Hizbollah in Lebanon crisis (war).

There is a current "shaky ceasefire" in the area while EU nations decide to commit troops to an "international force" of peacekeepers. Apparently everyone is waiting on France.

France is considered the likely leader of any "international force" because it has a strong army, can deploy troops quickly and has some credibility in the Arab world (because of opposing the US-British invasion of Iraq).

Once the "international force" is maintaining the peace a demilitarized zone can be created between the Israeli border and the Litani river, after Lebanese troops are deployed in the south, a Hizbollah "stronghold."

Then, the 2004 resolution, which calls for the disarmament of all militia such as Hizbollah, goes into effect. Disarming is to be done by the Lebanese army and UN troops. But, the crazy thing is Lebanon's defense minister Elias al-Murr said the army would not disarm Hizbollah and France's FM, Philippe Douste-Blazy, said his troops would not do it either.

So how does this disarmament resolution go into effect if no one disarms?

Former Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu makes his crusadist comments with claiming a buffer zone is only a partial answer. He doesn't give us the rest of the answer. Old Ben states : "Iran was developing missiles to reach London and, within 10 years, the U.S. East Coast. Iranian leaders frequently refer to the U.S. as "the Great Satan." We are the Little Satan, the United States is the Great Satan and Europe, even though it doesn't realize it, is a Middle Satan."

(Insert by way of deception thou shalt do war motto here.)

Ben Netanyahoo thinks Europe doesn't realize it's a member in the Axis of Satans? European heads are behind the world's misery as much as USrael. The US is just the muscle of the globalists, and they deploy US muscle at every opportunity.

Articles, written by the guardians of the "left", are declaring the myth of Israel's infallibility and military prowess has been shattered, etc. etc. etc. while some on the "right" cry Israel and US foes are "emboldened" by Hizbollah's "victory."

Hard to believe that Usrael Military, Inc. lost this latest little war against a half-assed armed militia, or in the romanticizing string of adjectives from the Guardian : "... a small band of irregulars kept at bay one of the world's most powerful armies for over a month, and inflicted remarkable losses on it; the manner in which it did this - a combination of professional skills, ingenuity, intrepidity, meticulous preparation, masterful use of anti-tank missiles, brilliant organisation, labyrinthine underground defences - is only now fully coming to light."

See, the "left" is right - even small bands can make a world of difference.

And for those on the "right" the Guardian has this : "Hizbullah's achievement has had an electrifying impact on the Arab and Muslim masses that largely transcends the otherwise growing, region-wide Sunni-Shia divide; it will contribute to their further radicalisation."

See, the "right" is right - those small bands will grow bigger and bigger and more and more dangerous.

Controlled insanity prevails.

Don't wear falsies on airplanes.

Keep Them Doggies Movin'

"It is time to jettison our illusions and fears and to transform age-old challenges with new thinking. This is the idea behind my proposal to establish a Department of Peace. This is the idea to make nonviolence an organizing principle at home and abroad and dedicate ourselves to peaceful coexistence, consensus building, disarmament, and respect for international treaties. Violence and war are not inevitable. Nonviolence and peace are inevitable." – Dennis Kucinich.

"Even the names of the four Ministries by which we are governed exhibit a sort of impudence in their deliberate reversal of the facts. The Ministry of Peace concerns itself with war, the Ministry of Truth with lies, the Ministry of Love with torture and the Ministry of Plenty with starvation. These contradictions are not accidental, nor do they result from ordinary hypocrisy; they are deliberate exercises in doublethink. For it is only by reconciling contradictions that power can be retained indefinitely. In no other way could the ancient cycle be broken. If human equality is to be forever averted -- if the High, as we have called them, are to keep their places permanently -- then the prevailing mental condition must be controlled insanity." - George Orwell.

Yeharr, another official gelded bureaucracy to staff and fund. – Kate/A.

Study Finds Immigrants Don't Hurt U.S. Jobs

The above is a recent Washington Post headline. From the Pew Hispanic Center, I would expect that to be the finding.

The headline is misleading as usual. Third paragraph states: "We cannot say with certainty that growth in the foreign population has hurt or helped American jobs."

I venture to say with certainty that if immigrants began taking top level executive jobs at the Pew Center at half the salary and none of the benefits the findings would be somewhat different.

The Pew Hispanic Center is one of several research groups funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts to develop and distribute unbiased information on controversial topics … The Pew Hispanic Center has published respected polls and reports on the role of Hispanics in the United States.

Unbiased. I can't stop laughing, give me a minute.

From Bumdunk, Heartland let me explain how immigrant labor has effected jobs.

Employers here, such as corporate farms, landscape and construction contractors, a few remaining factories, maintenance crews, etc. have quite the immigrant worker system going on. Legal and illegal. (Although it has become easier for employers to be legal in the last decade.)

For instance, Farmer White, Inc. pays his workers $5/hr. He provides makeshift housing, usually rundown trailers but in the last couple of years "bunkhouses" have popped up. Cheap short term housing and extended stay hotels, or as the brochures say : "Designed for temporary/seasonal workers." Kind of like the old days when cattle ranchers hired extra cowhands for the season and provided a place to hang your spurs. There is also almost always a "company store" with ethnic foods and liquor.

For the more independent immigrant and the crafty labor-runner, there's the lady down the road from me who brings in dozens of workers, rotating them every 6 months or so. She houses some in a small 1 bedroom house across the road and down from my property. Her latest crew of 5 are all Guatemalan. I occasionally invite them to sit on my front porch and have a few beers and chat. They talk of wives and children back home. They find nothing wrong with American politics or government.

They love this country because it took them out of poverty. There are no death squads. Their children will not die of malnutrition. Their mother has clothes and their siblings can attend grade school instead of working as street vendors. They are grateful to the US government. Nevermind that the wife had another baby which Jose says can't be his, or that Jose has a couple of babies here in the States who he proudly claims are American citizens even if he is not.

None speak English although all have been in and out of the States for 8 years. All have worked in Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Texas. They ride their bikes to a soybean plant 6 days a week. It's dirty, lung dusting hard work but at $6/hr and plenty of hours, it's their jackpot.

They receive no benefits but that's okay. If they are injured or get sick the local ER will treat them without question; the bossman will pick up the tab. There is more or less a "silent pact" between the local hospital and business owners here: if treatment is paid the hospital heads won't cause any problems for Bossman, Inc. But Jose is rarely sick or injured as it might terminate his very, very tiny sliver of the "American dream."

Thirty years ago the local corporate farms, factories, contractors, etc. were forced to pay Joe Schmoe somewhat of a living wage to support his family, unemployment insurance, health insurance, life insurance, pay raises, Worker Comp, pension plan, retirement – once called benefits. There were company sponsored picnics, baseball teams, and Christmas bonuses. The working man's perks that immigrant labor finds unnecessary and will forgo. Jose will return next year, after wintering a couple of months down south with the family he misses. (My neighbors cure for homesickness seems to be getting drunk and falling in love with a different white girl every Saturday night.)

I have no ill will for my temporary neighbors (how can I, they named me Lolita and refuse to believe my age) – but don't tell me immigrant labor has not and does not hurt US jobs or workers. This talking point to "support immigrants" is the "left" giving their sheep warm fuzzies while enriching themselves and the "right" - and maintaining labor practices which impoverish and/or break down working families on both sides of the border.

Fakes/Frauds

Received recently this link of photo fraud regarding the crisis of Israel/Lebanon. I have never been to the site Little Green Footballs but do know of their reputation (not for a lefty). Other rightwing clones are highlighting the story, as if their team never lies.

Reuters, and others, are accused of faking photos in order to portray Israeli damage to Lebanon as being greater, etc. etc.

More proof that both "right" and "left" are liars who use the same tactics. Mucking with our minds.

Now why would Reuters and others risk such poor photoshopping when truth is ugly enough?

Comin' To Getcha

Twice this week I received links to sites of FEMA and/or government concentration camps. Boxcars and razor wire; complete with shaky video footage, disturbing EFX music or dead silence, narrated by a slightly deadpan ominous voice - detailing the hell's-a-comin' soon to get you police state. Video short subjects of fear mongering - similar to the History Channel and PBS's decades long re-run of Holocaust docucommentaries.

Alex Jones type material, one with footage of a refurbished train station in Indiana, to include the words gas furnaces, railroad tracks, concrete floors, etc.

Whichever political party is in power is the one constructing these "camps." Reagan wanted them, Clinton had them, Bush is building them.

In once such youboob tube sent to me the narrator draws attention to razor wire as "pointing inward" instead of outward. A sign, of logic that can't be argued with according to the narrator, that the wire is to keep people from "getting out" not "getting in."

Ahem … hon, I don't care which way the razor is pointing, Made in China concertina wire will keep my gray ass from getting in or out.

Granted, I have had my brows in a scowl the past 4 years when locally our own Bumdunk town went from 2 per day trains passing through to 25. The trains also were longer and heavier. But I conclude that this activity and renewal is not related to the coming "concentration camps" but simply business as usual.

Government wealthyfare, trickle down.

After checking with the town daddies and state political porkers it appears our area was awarded several Homeland Department and other government contracts, which includes but not limited to, refurbishing abandoned train stations and laying new track. The jump in local train activity is to accommodate increased contracts for coal production and shipment, 2 new government SBA funded biodiesel plants, and Homeland Department grants to build such necessities as concrete road blocks for checkpoints (an item more in demand worldwide).

When Big Fed(eral) Daddy speaks of "gravy" train coming, local businessmen get in line. These are folks who have made their modest fortunes on knowing when to apply and how to receive "workfare" from government contracts and/or grants. Dollars are lining pockets as I speak, under the cover of building new or refurbishing existing structures - and everyone from the official program administrators to the truck sandwich man will hike prices and skim and scam.

Our local mayor sided with the grassrooters against the surge in train traffic through town, citing safety reasons, etc. and vowed to fight Union Pacific - but the State gave Bumdunk 3 million for a couple of new RR crossings and he had a change of heart. The usual legal muscle and hustle.

It's a bit reminiscent of the 1950s Big Fed Daddy's nationwide remodeling programs to put fallout shelters in public buildings (the Russians were coming). Those were the days of One Nation Underground: The Fallout Shelter in American Culture. Most Americans of that era did not succumb to fear-mongering and apparently many today are not buying the Islamofascists are coming culture.

A few years from now these same retrofitted "concentration camp" facilities or "detention centers" will again be in need of remodeling funds. Do you really think Halliburton could build vast detention centers for a mere 300 million or so? Average cost to construct a medium security prison bed is $100,000. Do the math. New home for 3-4,000 "fifth columnists"?

Even if these "concentration camps" are concentration camps - rest assured that today's workmanship, materials, and quality of construction will not withstand an angry mass of Joe Blows being prodded through the turnstiles. As with all Big Fed Daddy dole, the corruption from top to bottom, from code inspector to subcontractors, from Mexican construction crews to the governor's friends who oversee the project, all virtually assures these "camps" won't withstand the structural stress of a really pissed off crowd.

While funding themselves with projects and programs to "benefit the public", the PTB sometimes have the additional bonus of scaring sheep with the same programs. Just need a few folks with camcorders and "alternative" spokesmen to spread the fear.

Note too the fearmongers do not concentrate on Camp Comin'To Getcha as being for Arabs or Islamists or Blacks – but for YOU - Mr. Regular Whiteguy. They have to use psyop-terror in their war on you – you out number them.

And, for what it's worth, although Bobby Ray and Tyrone know I think they're dumb as dirt and they disagree often with my politics, they dislike and distrust government even more. They would be the first to load their weapons against Big Daddy herding their neighbors into boxcars.

"Real Deal" Mwahahahaha

Aug 10, 2006 (AP)— The "plotters" were attempting to commit mass murder "on an unimaginable scale." The plot was "sophisticated" and "international" in scope, according to American Homeland Chief Chertoff.

As many as 50 plotters may be involved. Fifty? Fifty patsies? LOL. No wonder they were caught. Cells are supposed to be small as in 5 or 6 and have no operational knowledge of other cells. And cui bono from attacking Joe Bloke and Joe Blow?

Chertoff said the plotters were in the final stages of planning. "We were really getting quite close to the execution phase," he said. Hmm, I bet you were Mikey.

"The plan involved airline passengers hiding masked explosives in carry-on luggage, the official said. "They were not yet sitting on an airplane," but were very close to traveling, the official said, calling the plot "the real deal."

Liquids are banned from carry-on luggage and cannot be taken through security checkpoints. That includes drinks, toothpaste, perfume, shampoo, hair gel, suntan lotion and similar items. Drinks purchased in the airport cannot be carried onto flights.

Also, after a lengthy delay, please properly present funky breath, B.O., and bad hair for inspection at boarding. No whining allowed. After boarding, all peons must tighten their yoke and praise their protectors.

The Glass Is Half Full

"This week Iraqis celebrated another significant advance toward their sovereign democracy. Today the 4th Iraqi Army Division assumed responsibility for operations from the American 101st Airborne Division. Half the Iraqi Army divisions are now in the lead for planning and controlling security operations in Iraq."

Interpretation: Multi-national forces (Anglos) are half way to replacing their previous puppets (Saddam & Republic Guard) with friendlier puppets (Paris, London, & NY exiles) and their Elite Guards. (Titles paid for by USA peasants).

"Only Iraqis can achieve enduring strategic success in Iraq. And area by area, province by province, Iraqis are assuming responsibility for securing their country. Much has been achieved and much remains to be accomplished. Some may focus on the negative and claim that the road ahead is hard and long."

Interpretation: Coming shortly (2008), Democrats return to power (same glass, just the other half full of it) and also claim Iraqis making progress, much has been achieved and much remains yadayadayadayada … the Iraqi Army is more than half way to its goal of taking the lead in maintaining security for a free and democratic Iraq (territorial province of Empire). Worldwide, all peasants please continue on down the hard road. Thank you for your support and God Bless America.

Joe & Ned Musical Chairs

HARTFORD, Conn., Aug. 8 -- In a stark repudiation, Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.) narrowly lost the Democratic Senate primary here Tuesday night, falling to antiwar candidate Ned Lamont in a campaign that became a referendum on the incumbent's support for the Iraq war.

Stark repudiation? Narrowly losing does not sound like a strong rejection to me but what do I know. If Lieberman goes Independent he may still be returned to the senate. But for now the "new" democrats are happy. It proves their talking point that nobody likes the Iraq war, although both parties keep voting yes to fund it.

Ned's stance on the Iraq War issue: "Today, America is no safer, Israel is no safer, Iran is more dangerous, Osama bin Laden is still at large, and our brave troops are stuck in the middle of a bloody civil war. I believe that those leaders who got us into this mess should be held accountable … Our best chance of success requires that the Iraqis take control of their own destiny. America should make clear that we have no designs upon their oil and no plans for permanent bases. While we will continue to provide logistical and training support as long as we are asked, our frontline military troops should begin to be redeployed and our troops should start heading home."

Hmm, how many wrongs can I see in that statement? Israel is no safer, Iran more dangerous. AIPAC and others are glad to hear that one. Iran is more a threat is it Ned? Ned believes the official "bin Laden did it" story. …those leaders who got us into this mess - that would retire and/or convict about 98 percent of D.C. We have no designs on their oil and no plan for permanent bases - certainly an entrepreneur of Ned's caliber knows that is the design and it is going as planned. And he knows this is NOT Vietnam; we are not going to have a dramatic pullout with images of folks hanging onto the helicopter.

And there's that word again – redeployed (as in to other countries in the area). But no mention of a timeframe for bringing troops home (as in on US soil) because the peace-loving democrats, once in power again, will have the same excuses: The Iraqis must take control of their destiny, as in maybe next year or the year after that or the year after that. And surely Ned is aware those massive military installations the US has built will need thousands of US troops, for a long time, to arm and train Iraqis to take control of their destiny. Not to mention guarding the world's largest US embassy in Baghdad. Are we going to build forts and call them embassies now?

What I want Ned and the "new" dems to answer for me is, with a US military of 1 million plus, why does the military keep rotating the same batch of troops as in 2 or 3 and 4 tours of duty? Are they holding back some troops for something else?

And will the dems explain why the safety of Israel is so important to American politicians and policy, when Israel is nothing more than a high-tech weapons factory, half populated by Jewish immigrants given monetary incentive to relocate there (and then moving back to New York City)? Could it be Israel is simply the Office of Zionistas with 5 million Torah and Talmud thumpers as cover? Ned assures Israel of his concern for their safety, and winky wink – he knows Iran is more dangerous. I dunno about you but pandering all sounds the same to me.

Golden Shovel Award

Ned Lamont, the new Harvard/Yale face of political buttcheeks challenges Joe Lieberman. If you believe half the trash coming out, a Lamont win will be due to the Daily Kos. Kos the kingmaker, according to some.

Kingmaker? Oh please, make me stop grinning.

I can't keep a straight face when everywhere I read Markos is "left leaning" and "liberal." (Hopefully you are aware of whois Markos and his politics.) Known as Kos, his history has more holes than the overcoat of my husband's great uncle after Capone finished with him.

Kos' bio states he was born in 1971 in Chicago. At the age of 4 he moved to El Salvador which would be 1975, and moved back again to the States in 1980, to Schaumberg, IL. Coincidentally, I had in-laws in Schaumberg during the same time period as Marksos. At that time it was a predominantly white, upper middle class 'burb. Markos story of "growing up" in a war zone doesn't fit - 4 or 5 years does not a childhood make. His claims are stretched to say the least. He grew up in the 'burbs of Shytown.

Kos' states : "Unlike the vast majority of people in this country, I actually grew up in a war zone,” he wrote. “I witnessed communist guerillas execute students accused of being government collaborators. I was eight years old, and I remember stepping over a dead body, warm blood flowing from a fresh wound."

Kos' ability to stretch truth is equal to or exceeds that of the winners in "liar" contests. Local contests award cash, ribbons and the Golden Shovel trophy. Bluffing and bullshitting can be hilarious. So much fun in fact, here in hillbilly heaven, folks practice their game 24/7 for a lifetime.

Contests are held and winners judged on their capacity to take a subject matter (usually outlandish) and make it so believable the story is accepted as true. I believe Kos "warm blood/fresh wound" story as much as I believe local Golden Shovel champions. (His warm wound story reminds me every VN vet I've ever met was spit upon.)

From 1975-80 (Kos years in Salvador) the Salvadoran civil war was not raging, not yet fueled by the election of Ronald Reagan and massive US military aid to the Salvadoran government. Only after the murder of Archbishop Romero and the murder of 4 American nuns by the El Salvador government did the leftist guerrillas unite to form FMLN and begin a counteroffensive in 1981. Little Kos was long gone back to the Chicago 'burbs.

In Markos view the Salvadoran guerrillas were bad commies and the Salvadoran government good. Doesn't take a genius to figure out Kos is no liberal or leftist or progressive. He backed the Salvadoran oligarchy the American "left" fought against. Today he claims Romero as one of his heroes, the way 5th graders used to claim JFK their hero. Does he know Romero was murdered for being simpatico to the country's commie poor being murdered by the government? Markos has slicked up his rhetoric since 2002 when he began the DailyKos site. Like a politician, on book tours, lectures, and interviews, he wised-up to the importance of a bullshitter's nuance.

Bull, such as this quote from Kos on why he "won't write about Israel/Lebanon/Palestine fighting" : "I grew up in a war zone. And there was one clear lesson I learned -- there will never be peace unless both sides get tired of the fighting and start seeking an alternative. It's clear that in the Middle East, no one is sick of the fighting. They have centuries of grudges to resolve, and will continue fighting until they can get over them."

Grudges. I know racist Bubba and Tyrone believe the grudge rhetoric as I've heard them often regurgitate "theys bin killin' one 'nother for thousins' o years" - but for Markos, an educated man, to spout such ignorance, and be taken seriously, is crazy. Is that the loony left or what? For Kos and ilk the current wars have less to do with land grabbing geopolitics, US fueled jihadists, Zionism, etc. and just more a centuries-long grudge match.

Kos simplifies his world view for his followers but he's a caricature to the few genuine American "leftists." Fortunate for him, his audience is younger and of the mindset they can change the world simply by voting in the right candidate every 2 to 4 years. Oh to be so young or dumb again. If this is progressive – I want none of it.

Whether groomed intentionally by the ruling class for the role Kos now plays in American politics, or whether he just kind of stepped into it by chance and is now manipulated by the PTB – it's hard to say. But the end results are the same. Another elite controlled mouthpiece willing to force upon the rest of us the humble mantra that he is "reigniting the progressive movement." And doing it with a great big shovel to anyone who brings a spoon.