BillW
I think you hit the nail on the head. Rumsfeld's Office of Special Plans (plan 1 Afghanistan plan 2 Iraq plan 3 Syria Iran or Lebanon or N Korea) appears to be bypassing the normal intelligence channels in the US govt and with the Brits. I would not be at all surprised if one or two special people here have access to Blair and the OSP without going through official channels at all. That really annoys people. There is nothing more angry than a spook spooked or a spy spied on.
Set. Exactly. In a world of mirrors, an official denial is as close as you will ever get to confirmation of your worst fears.
CI - No wonder the DNC is in a shambles; they are too busy being clever rather than being smart. Clever makes people laugh. Smart makes people vote.
Scrat
Yes must if they want help or support from other nations they MUST go to the UN. India,Russia,Germany and France have all indicated there willingness to send in peacekeeping troops if sanctioned by the UN. I believe there are others who have also voiced the conditions .
If I'm not mistaken, this administration used the word "irrelevant" when they were trying to get the UN to approve the war with Iraq. It's now "after the war" according to this administration with gorilla warfare declared recently. Since the one on one appeal to many nations to help with the security of Iraq have failed, this administration must now turn to the irrelevant UN for assistance. Unilateralism doesn't work well in this world, as this administration is now beginning to realize - maybe. c.i.
Steve (as 41oo) wrote:Set. Exactly. In a world of mirrors, an official denial is as close as you will ever get to confirmation of your worst fears.
Interesting choice of metaphor, Boss. My favorite John LeCarré novel, for literary economy and creating a mood, is
The Looking Glass War. Very
à propos, in that it deals with an intelligence gathering organization desparate to generate reports, even to the extent of "manufacturing" intelligence data, to justify its continued existence.
(I should post the photo of my old English sheepdog asleep in the sun with five or six kittens asleep on her tummy, Set. But I want that b&w kitten, please.)
Which black and white kitten, tartarin? And please do post the sheepdog photo. We need some joy.
Kara, Tartarin is referring to a photo i used for an avatar for a few hours today; she liked it, so i've e-mailed the original and a resized version for her to use, if she so chooses.
Quotes
Just a little bubble gum for the mind.........
It is proof of a base and low mind for one to wish to think with the masses or majority, merely because the majority is the majority. Truth does not change because it is, or is not, believed by a majority of the people.
-Giordano Bruno
A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.
-Edward Abbey
America does not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She well knows that by enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standards of freedom.
-John Quincy Adams
There are only two means by which men can deal with one another: guns or logic. Force or persuasion. Those who know that they cannot win by means of logic, have always resorted to guns.
-Ayn Rand
Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.
-C.S. Lewis
What luck for rulers that men do not think.
-Adolf Hitler
It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
-Voltaire
Gels, More people need to chew on those, and live by those precepts.
c.i.
The White House says this puts to bed any doubts. I agree for once (and they only released 9 of 90 pages, without a doubt, the best pages for them - sad day for America)
http://www.msnbc.com/news/937524.asp?vts=071920030415
This is prima facia evidence that this administration has committed crimes against humanity and should therefore be in prison. They wanted a war and created a war for personal, political and economic gain. They are devious, egotistical mass murders - a past, current and unrepenting threat to humanity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Was the avatar an enormous dog gently touching a wee kitten? I saw it and wished I could make it large enough to see better.
Ge, I've always liked that Edward Abbey quote. And the others ain't bad, either.
http://www.judicialwatch.org/071703.b_PR.shtml
Quote:JUDICIAL WATCH
MEDIA ADVISORY
CHENEY ENERGY TASK FORCE DOCUMENTS FEATURE MAP OF IRAQI OILFIELDS
Commerce & State Department Reports to Task Force Detail Oilfield & Gas Projects, Contracts & Exploration
Saudi Arabian & UAE Oil Facilities Profiled As Well
(Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption and abuse, said today that documents turned over by the Commerce Department, under court order as a result of Judicial Watch's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit concerning the activities of the Cheney Energy Task Force, contain a map of Iraqi oilfields, pipelines, refineries and terminals, as well as 2 charts detailing Iraqi oil and gas projects, and "Foreign Suitors for Iraqi Oilfield Contracts." The documents, which are dated March 2001, are available on the Internet at:
www.JudicialWatch.
And they say it wasn't about OIL!
I loved all the quotes, Ge, and am half sorry that I just switched out my Madison quote for the present one. But I am trying to spontaneously diversify.
I have not been back to this forum for a long while, and have a hell of a nerve speaking up unbidden. But, I am late,......as usual.
I am truly appalled at what this administration has done.....it surely is on the same level of evil to the populace as what Nixon attempted. And he may yet get away with some of his crap. Truly scary times.
You are welcome anytime, anywhere sumac. I fully agree with you, except Nixon was a cheap burglary - this is big time Fascism.
i tend to wax nostalgic for the Nixon days
