9
POPSBill Moyers: Bring Back the Draft The President is just about ready to send more troops. Maybe 44 thousand, that's the number General McChrystal wants, bringing the total to over 100 thousand. When I read speculation last weekend that the actual number needed might be 600 thousand, I winced. I can still see President Lyndon Johnson's face when he asked his generals how many years and how many troops it would take to win in Vietnam. One of them answered, "Ten years and one million." He was right on the time and wrong on the number-- two and a half million American soldiers would serve in Vietnam, and we still lost.
3
POPSReal men don't read D.C. pundits
Even worse than Krauthammer's column today, though, was David Brooks in the New York Times. Partly it's because Brooks likes to pretend to be open-minded and reasonable, while spouting neocon talking points, and occasionally liberals get pulled in by him. But today was trademark lazy ideological Brooks. As Glenn Greenwald notes, unbelievably he bragged about "doing what journalists are supposed to do" -- which he defined as talking to a handful of anonymous pro-war sources, who uniformly criticized Obama's inaction to date on McCrystal's troop request. That's some brave shit. Not quite David Rohde brave, but hey, he made the calls! If it was unanimous, that means he didn't call retired Marine Matthew Hoh, who resigned from a civilian post in Afghanistan this week because he said we can't win, and our presense is only fueling the insurgency. Hoh told the Washington Post's Karen de Young he's "not some peacenik, pot-smoking hippie who wants everyone to be in love" and that he believes
13
POPSThe Record is Clear' - Dick Cheney is Not Credible For certain, Cheney is not the only one pressing Obama to hurry his Afghanistan strategy. The Neo-Conservatives have taken to every media outlet that will have them; and, if they're not talking about Afghanistan, they're second guessing the president's diplomacy with Iran, Russia, etc... For reasons I find incomprehensible, media outlets -- and not just Fox News, mind you -- treat them as if their credibility isn't completely lacking when it comes to matters of national security. That ship sailed months, if not years before Obama's election. Consider the scathing rebuke of Cheney issued by Gen. Paul Eaton (Ret.), senior adviser for the National Security Network:
6
POPSA Reason to "Support Our Troops" -- Bring 'em Back Home From Afghanistan!
The troops' loss of heart to fight is intellectually sound. Depression is caused, in part, by cognitive dissonance, when two things do not square correctly, i.e. we are here to defend the U.S.? Really? The war is an elite war and part of a global agenda, not based upon any credible threat to the U.S. from Afghanistan. Nor is invading and occupying a country a very credible way to prevent terrorism, even if you believe the official propaganda to be true. Now the greatest threat to the continued bipartisan-believed (neocon initiated) propaganda (which Obama continues) is this reality of the troops morale ....you know, the one's whose very lives are at stake in a foreign country, and family lives are divided (unlike those in armchairs who promote the war and send them and claim to "support them"). See "Cost of War in Afghanistan" clipmark below. Also, National Guard from each state were never intended to be deployed like full time military in foreign wars.
5
POPS Obamlet What any prosecutor or defense attorney will tell you about jury deliberations … how long they’re out doesn’t necessarily tell you anything. It could mean they are trying really hard to convince themselves that abandonment will work … and to find a way to convince America and the world that an easy out is the considered, sensible thing to do. Or it could be that they know what they need to do, they are just afraid to do it. Afraid of the consequences of angering their anti-war lefty base, afraid of remaining committed to a war with a horizon past 2010 and 2012. But that’s about as charitable and optimistic a view as is possible, and assumes they actually want to find a way to do the right thing. Unfortunately, there has been little to indicate that is what they are interested in doing. What makes this less like jury deliberations and more like a Shakespearean tragedy, though, is that every now and then, a major player sticks his head out to shout something.
2
POPSHere We Go Again--Iran Is a Threat (but Not Nuclear Israel), blah, blah The propaganda machine about the "threat" of Iran has kicked into high gear, again, driven (as was the Iraq war) by not just the White House and both coerced parties in Congress (via AIPAC), but US Media, singing in complete unison. Who is really playing the aggressor? Who is threatening to attack whom , ....and based upon what ? The drum beat is identical to that about Iraq and Saddam Hussein, which we know was a lie, and part of the neocon agenda for a "new middle east". The morale of that story is do not trust the government when it comes to starting (or provoking) wars and conflicts, which always begins with sanctions , and gaining the UN Gang's support, rather easily swayed. They seek to overcome any resistance by incessant REPETITION of the same propaganda message as with Iraq.
3
POPSNeocon Judge's History of Cover-ups In the 1980s, Silberman played behind-the-scenes roles in helping Ronald Reagan gain the White House; he helped formulate hard-line intelligence policies; he encouraged right-wing media attacks on liberals; and he protected the flanks of Reagan’s operatives who were caught breaking the law.
3
POPS Irving Kristol Irving Kristol, 1920-2009: Godfather of Neoconservatism (Read WP posts from Donald Douglas) | (Read MT posts from Donald Douglas) The Astute Bloggers graciously provides the New York Times link, “Irving Kristol, Godfather of Modern Conservatism, Dies at 89.” Also, my good friend Ken Davenport has written his own thoughtful commemoration, “Irving Kristol, 1920-2009.” Ken focuses on how Kristol’s neoconservatism has become the most important critique of modern statist ideologies (and of especially the consequences of post-1960s Democratic Party social policy).There’s lots of commentary at Memeorandum. See Jules Crittenden, GayPatriot, Power Line, The Other McCain, and Outside The Beltway. See especially John Podoretz’s obituary at Commentary, and Robert Kagan at the Washington Post. And Myron Magnet, at City Journal, shares a personal anecdote about Kristol’s compassion: Read more >>> http://www.memeorandum.com/090918/p115#a090918p115
5
POPS52 Race Cards in Every Deck Plus the Jokers
For instance, William Jacobson @ Legal Insurrection thinks there's "An Allergic Reaction To The Race Card" coming right up: The increasingly hysterical use of the the race card by liberal columnists, bloggers and politicians reflects the last gasps of people who, being unable to win an argument on the merits, seek to end the argument. Perhaps, but the allergic reaction is taking place among Americans watching the Race Card being tossed, not among the tossers. Until the suppurating buboes of their spiritual plague break out in their armpits, the Race Card players will keep on flinging. The speak-softly-but-carry-a-sharp-stilletto neo-neocon in The racers may not win this race is pinning some hope on the people and the polls. Alas, you know what they say about holding hope in your hand: So far, the American people don't seem to be buying the racers' arguments. Both writers cite this Rasmussen poll indicating that only 12% of Americans think opponents of Obamacare . . .
2
POPSU.S. frees 5 Iranian diplomats held since 2007 Two and a half years in prison without any charges being filed, without any evidence being presented, without any rights to a lawyer, no chance to defend yourself from accusations, all contact with family, friends, your own government or agencies like the Red Cross cut off No clearing of their name. This is classic injustice, another example of USA hypocrisy and cruelty, phony face and double-standards. Why all the concern on the media about Iranian election results and almost zero coverage about USA violations of its own principles? The answer, of course, is strong forces of neocon conservatives, warmongering Republicans and Zionist extremist are once against pushing for war against Iran.
3
POPS8th Grade girl's Strip Search - UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Thanks, to the ACLU, for taking on and winning the case of a young teenage girl, strip searched at school because another student claimed she had given her Advil. What the hell is wrong with some school officials? There are times they do not seem in possession of the brains they were born with. The case, of one child's frightening experience that will, without a doubt, be with her for the rest of her life and that’s not the chilling part. School, a place for learning, had become, this day in 2003, a place for terror... With all the bullying that goes on, many of our children are in fact, already afraid to go to school. Bullying by kids is one thing but harassment by a top school official (our employee) goes beyond the pale. A little Common Sense carried out by the school higher ups, would have absolved the whole incident with dignity for everyone. But, in defense of the school's inept vice principal, in (Bush/Neocon) 2003, insanity reigned supreme and Common Sense was in short supply!
1
POPSIran Elections and "Green Revolution", US Involvement Paul Craig Roberts, former Reagan Treasury official, goes on to unmask a neocon source about the election controversy: For example, neoconservative Kenneth Timmerman wrote the day before the election that “there’s talk of a ‘green revolution’ in Tehran.” How would Timmerman know that unless it was an orchestrated plan? Why would there be a ‘green revolution’ prepared prior to the vote, especially if Mousavi and his supporters were as confident of victory as they claim? This looks like definite evidence that the US is involved in the election protests.
3
POPSAre the Iranian Election Protests Another US Orchestrated ‘Color Revolution’? "Neoconservative Kenneth Timmerman wrote the day before the election that “there’s talk of a ‘green revolution’ in Tehran.” How would Timmerman know that unless it was an orchestrated plan? Why would there be a ‘green revolution’ prepared prior to the vote, especially if Mousavi and his supporters were as confident of victory as they claim? This looks like definite evidence that the US is involved in the election protests." So quickly Americans forget how the US was involved with the 1953 Iranian "coup d´état" that deposed the democratically-elected government of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mosaddeqh. it wouldn't surprise me one little bit if the CIA is behind it all. The plot thickens...
2
POPSOPERATION TWEET: Iran Election Unrest Fomented via Twitter Here is some powerful evidence. In addition to "Israeli interests" it also could be Mossad or even CIA operatives for that matter thru their "propaganda" wings. (The US has fomented revolutions in Iran before, as even Obama acknowledged publicly). The article continues: Why were these tweets in English? Why were all of these profiles OBSESSED with Iran? It became obvious that this was the work of a team of people with an interest in destabilizing Iran. The profiles are phonies and were created with the sole intention of destabilizing Iran and effecting public opinion as to the legitimacy of Iran’s election. Frankly the "private videos" now being shown by the US media (which piled on Ahmandinejad along with the neocon propaganda) look entirely spurious, and could be faked as well...blurry lines of people. It has all the credibility of a "bin Laden" video.
6
POPSCheney tied to cash theft and possible murder in Iraq The case against Dick Cheney just keeps getting better. One of the biggest threats to American freedoms is now being tied to a ‘spoils of war’ cache and a murder. This is the only place I have heard this charge, so the source is a bit suspect. But given the state of ‘fairness’ of our main stream media I am not surprised that this is the only source. On November 14, 2005, “In one of the worst intelligence fiascoes carried out by the neocon administration of Iraq under Paul “Jerry’ Bremer, Saddam Hussein’s chief money mover and financial adviser was beaten to death by US interrogators in Tikrit after the U.S. invasion. After Samara was occupied by US forces, it was discovered that Abu Seger lived in a home on the Tigris River just 200 yards from the main U.S. military position in the city. It did not take long for U.S. troops to break down Seger’s door and haul him off to a detention center.”
4
POPSSigners: Cheney, Rice (not Rumsfeld) Approved Torture This is why Cheney went public while Bush remains a recluse--i.e. Cheney has to protect his anti-constitutional ass from prosecution! Note that Powell was left out of the loop, and surprisingly, even Rumsfeld (at least in documentation). This was a Cheney-Neocon operation as much as the rogue Office of Special Plans was! He may have even covered for Bush in doing this. The rest of the CIA was "just following orders". Some people are saying "well, it did not kill them". But it did produce false confessions (just to avoid pain) as usual, and massive psychological damage. If you lose your sanity it mentally kills you. Remember too, that Powell's Chief of Staff, Wilkerson, said hardly anyone at Gitmo (very small percentage) could be called combatants or terrorists from the massive dragnet the paid bounties to Afghans for fingering people (for whatever motives, largely money).
7
POPS"Times Fronts AIPAC Story That Washington Post Ignores" Just goes to show how important it is that the New York Times survives. The story was big yesterday. Today the Times made it impossible to ignore -- except by the Post which, to its credit, has never claimed to be the "newspaper of record." That is still the Times.
0
POPSFascist CIA Warmonger Attacks Obama Despite the fact that President Obama has said ("shockingly," to some) that he wouldn't encourage prosecution of the actual CIA agents who did the torture at Abu Garabi, the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, or the secret prisons in Poland, Afghanistan and elsewhere, the neocon conservatives are jumping all over him claiming he's made the country less safe.
2
POPS Resolved: Vikings > Pirates There could be some political pushback about a force exclusively staffed by burly blonde males, but Democrats from the northern Midwest should be happy to have those types out of their districts for good. Expect newly minted Minnesota senator Al Franken to co-sponsor the Viking Authorization Bill, building up his defense bona fides. "But Jon, why use swords, clubs and battle-axes when we have a modern, well-equipped Navy already in the region?" First Ninjas, now this? You sir, are a foreign policy dilettante. Sure, we could send a destroyer to sink a fleet of Somali dinghies, but where's the fun in that? In politics, perception is reality and Vikings vs. Pirates is flat-out COOL. Can you imagine the YouTube videos? Cable news would help fund the initiative just for the ratings boost. Exurban League calls on President Obama to do the right thing for our country, free trade and our entertainment: Use Vikings to kill the Pirates. If not for us, Sir, then for the children.
2
POPSObama vs. Netanyahu, Pre-meeting Manuevers Obama may not bow openly to Netanyahu (as he did the Saudi King), but Israel will continue to get heavy military support from the U.S., and in turn carry out their atrocities, even more so under the neocon-linked Likud party PM Netanyahu (who said "9/11 was good for Israel"): ...intends to continue the military assistance agreement that was signed by his predecessor, George W. Bush. Israel demands the entire world revolve around it's own self interests, which is the cause of the present continued war policy.
4
POPSObama to Cheney: You Didn't Make Us Safer
It seems like forever, or never, that we had a positive and progressive political leader who would stand up to the pitiful neocon Republican warmongering and claptrap ripping apart of our country and our principles. President Obama does that. There's actions behind the words too. All those Bush-era trials that were denied or stalled in the courts because of government claims of 'national security,' will now be allowed to go ahead. The false claim of 'national security,' can no longer be used to block trials and civil actions that involved Bush-era use of torture, extraordinary rendition and other crimes. I heard someone say yesterday he was a good "explainer.' Maybe it's that simple. He calmly explains why he doesn't need advise from war criminals like Dick Cheney. For some reason, in the past, nobody would respond to all the fascist sick ideas of the neocon Republicans and warmongers. I think this is a good 'signal,' btw. War crimes will not be brushed off and
2
POPSPresident Obama Even Better Than Expected! The new U.S. president is doing a great job! His dramatic challenges and changes to same old cliche politics or the nightmare of the Bush years has been profound. He's done more good in two months in office that George Bush did in two terms. Of course the other news story is the mean-spirited, partisian, vile and vitriolic hounding of his every move by sore losers, neocon warmongers and mainstream media rag sheets of blog gossip. Honestly, in a lifetime of front line actions, from public battles to underground campaigns I have never seen it this bad. In truth, I never realized it was this bad, this universal. It seems all the media wants to report is bad things and it searches for that one flaw or one mistake -- or exaggerates things or takes them out of context to fabricate 'mistakes,' - all designed and adding up to dragging the man down. It's now a real issue in and of itself and it could build up to rip the nation apart (again). But here's the real news (with cart
2
Pops
Newest Clips
Latest Comments
Most Pops
Print
Save
Turn on live update