The USDA on Iraq: Everything's Coming Up Rosy
Career appointees at the Department of Agriculture were stunned last week to receive e-mailed instructions that include Bush administration "talking points" — saying things such as "President Bush has a clear strategy for victory in Iraq" — in every speech they give for the department.
Bombings, Shootings Kill at Least 30 in Iraq
The USDA on Iraq: Everything's Coming Up Rosy
There's a sample introduction: "Several topics I'd like to talk about today — Farm Bill, trade with Japan, WTO, avian flu . . . but before I do, let me touch on a subject people always ask about . . . progress in Iraq." See? Smooth as silk.So then you talk about how "we are helping the Iraqi people build a lasting democracy that is peaceful and prosperous." If it looks like the audience is with you, try to slip in the old Iraq/al-Qaeda/terrorism link and say Americans are helping build a country "that will never again be a safe haven for terrorists."
A Look at U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq
As of Monday, May 8, 2006, at least 2,422 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes seven military civilians. At least 1,907 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.
The USDA on Iraq: Everything's Coming Up Rosy
The e-mail shows how to weave in a comment that times are tough for Iraqi farmers. "But revitalization is underway. President Bush has a clear strategy for victory in Iraq structured on three tracks — political, economic and security."
Be crop-specific. "The Iraqis have also discussed specific products, like tomatoes, which they are anxious to export into the world community," the e-mail notes.
Despite general's arrest, kidnappings continue in Iraq
The Iraqi Ministry of Interior has made little headway in curbing the kidnappings and killings tied to Iraq's own security forces, despite recent actions against some of its own top commanders.
A Shiite Muslim general, Hunain Hamoud, who commanded the police force in the mostly Sunni areas of west Baghdad, was fired six weeks ago on suspicion of kidnapping for ransom.
Officials at the ministries of interior and defense said that an arrest warrant was issued by an Iraqi judge for Brig. Gen. Khamis al-Jubouri, a Sunni commander of oil protection forces who's accused of murder, kidnappings and terrorist acts.
The USDA on Iraq: Everything's Coming Up Rosy
But what if your speech is on civil rights? Easy. Begin this way: "I'm here to talk about civil rights, which is one of the fundamental tenets of democracy." Then you can say this country "has been evolving for 230 years . . . still working to become a more perfect union . . .
"So before I begin talking about the civil rights climate at USDA," the example says, "I'd like to address the situation in another nation that is just now forging the path to democracy."
Bingo! You're in. Now: "The president has a clear strategy for victory in Iraq structured along three tracks," etc.
Finally a mix of good news and bad, Violence persists as Iraqi govt delayed
The vicious cycle of violence continued in Iraq as efforts to form the new government stumbled over allocation of key portfolios.
The announcement of Prime Minister-designate Jawad al-Maliki's government is reportedly delayed by disagreement over the allocation of the ministries of interior and defense.
The Shiites, who constitute Iraq's majority community, are vying for the key ministries which others prefer to hand to independent candidates.
Meanwhile, two explosive charges went off in central Baghdad Monday, and the U.S. Army announced the death of a Marine who succumbed to wounds suffered Sunday in fighting with gunmen in al-Anbar province, in western Iraq.
An Iraqi security source said the first explosion occurred in Beirut Square and followed half an hour later by a second blast that ripped through a restaurant in central Baghdad.
Three years and a country with a population of 25 million people still does not have a stable government in place. Baghdad, Iraq's largest city and the seat of this disorgainized government has still not been secured. This is the Bush strategy whereby the troops and the Iraqis die the death of a thousand little cuts. In keeping with the administration's mule headed stuburness against changing course, Chalabi involved US, Iran policy making again, current and former intelligence officials say .
Ahmed Chalabi, the man who helped provide cooked intelligence on Iraq to the Pentagon and the New York Times in the lead-up to war, is once again being engaged in US policy decisions, current and former intelligence officials say.
Chalabi was under investigation for passing information to the Iranians, but I guess the right-wing blogs and the MSM is too busy with important matters like a certain Democratic congressman's traffic accident to be concerned about that. Quite a coincidence that the investigation of Chalabi cooled once far right stalwart John Negroponte became Director of National Intelligence.
Which leads back to yesterday's topic General Hayden, CIA Nominee Hayden Linked to MZM
These are both ideas and the things that the one party rule of far right conservatism is afraid of, Democrats Are Ready
1. Honest Leadership and Open Government
We will end the Republican culture of corruption and restore a government as good as the people it serves.2. Real Security
We will protect Americans at home and lead the world by telling the truth to our troops, our citizens and our allies.3. Energy Independence
We will create a cleaner and stronger America by reducing our dependence on foreign oil.4. Economic Prosperity and Educational Excellence
We will create jobs that will stay in America by restoring opportunity and driving innovation.5. A Healthcare System that Works for Everyone
We will join 36 other industrialized nations by making sure everyone has access to affordable health care.6. Retirement Security
We will ensure that a retirement with dignity is the right and expectation of every single American.
THEY all want to play Hamlet.
They have not exactly seen their fathers killed
Nor their mothers in a frame-up to kill,
Nor an Ophelia dying with a dust gagging the heart,
Not exactly the spinning circles of singing golden spiders,
Not exactly this have they got at nor the meaning of flowers—O flowers, flowers slung by a dancing girl—in the saddest play the inkfish, Shakespeare, ever wrote;
Yet they all want to play Hamlet because it is sad like all actors are sad and to stand by an open grave with a joker’s skull in the hand and then to say over slow and say over slow wise, keen, beautiful words masking a heart that’s breaking, breaking,
This is something that calls and calls to their blood.
They are acting when they talk about it and they know it is acting to be particular about it and yet: They all want to play Hamlet.
They All Want to Play Hamlet by Carl Sandburg
The Long Goodbye 